ENUGU, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced that it has secured 1,721 convictions for terrorism and related offences since launching its mass terrorism trial programme in October 2017, describing the initiative as a major step towards strengthening criminal justice while upholding due process and the rule of law.
The Director of Legal Services at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Zakari Mijinyawa, disclosed this on Thursday during a joint security briefing by spokespersons of security, defence and law enforcement agencies in Abuja.
According to him, the mass trial programme is coordinated by the Office of the National Security Adviser in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Judiciary, security and law enforcement agencies, as well as international partners.
Mijinyawa said 10 phases of the programme have so far been completed.
“The Federal Government has continued to strengthen the administration of criminal justice in terrorism cases through its mass trial programme, a coordinated initiative involving the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Judiciary, security and law enforcement agencies, and international partners.
“Since the commencement of the programme in October 2017, 10 phases of mass trials have been successfully conducted, resulting in 1,721 convictions for terrorism and related offences.”
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He stressed that the programme was not designed solely to secure convictions but also to ensure fairness by discharging or acquitting defendants where the evidence failed to meet the legal threshold.
“The programme has also ensured that defendants against whom the prosecution did not establish guilt beyond reasonable doubt were discharged or acquitted, demonstrating the government’s commitment to due process, the rule of law, and fair trial standards,” he said.
Providing a breakdown of the programme, Mijinyawa explained that the first three phases, conducted between 2017 and 2018 at Wawa Cantonment in Kainji, produced 366 convictions, 882 discharges, five acquittals and 61 adjourned cases.
After a pause, the programme resumed in 2023 with Phase Four, which recorded 14 convictions.
He added that Phases Five and Six, conducted in 2024, resulted in 351 convictions involving terrorism financing, international crimes and sexual and gender-based violence.
During the same period, eight defendants were discharged, while three others were referred for medical or mental health evaluation.
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According to him, Phases Seven and Eight held in 2025 produced an additional 125 convictions.
Mijinyawa disclosed that the most significant progress came in 2026 during Phases Nine and Ten conducted at the Federal High Court in Maitama, Abuja.
He said the two phases recorded 865 convictions, made up of 386 convictions in Phase Nine and 479 in Phase Ten, alongside 28 discharges, one acquittal and 224 adjourned cases.
“A notable milestone of the programme is that the 865 convictions secured in 2026 account for more than half (50.3 per cent) of all terrorism-related convictions recorded since the programme commenced in 2017.
“This also exceeds the combined total of 856 convictions secured during the preceding nine years (2017–2025),” he stated.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to prosecuting terrorism-related offences while protecting the constitutional rights of defendants.
“The discharge or acquittal of defendants where the prosecution failed to satisfy the required legal standard underscores our commitment to fair trial standards and the rule of law,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Defence Headquarters said troops neutralised 1,597 terrorists and other insurgents, rescued 1,516 kidnapped victims and carried out 14,221 military operations across Nigeria between January and June 2026.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, represented by Group Captain Kabiru Ali, said the operations involved coordinated land, air and maritime missions across several states.
He disclosed that troops recovered 451 firearms, 16,726 rounds of ammunition, 161 explosives and improvised explosive devices, significantly weakening the capabilities of criminal groups.
According to him, military operations covered major security flashpoints in Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Katsina, Kwara, Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, Benue, Niger, Oyo and Kaduna states.
He explained that intelligence-led operations, targeted raids, clearance missions and rescue efforts resulted in the neutralisation of 412 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, the arrest of 332 suspected terrorists, the rescue of 261 kidnapped victims from terrorist hideouts and the surrender of 132 insurgents.
Uba also disclosed that troops safely detonated 31 improvised explosive devices during the review period.
Beyond combat operations, he said the Armed Forces strengthened civil-military relations through 33 peacebuilding initiatives, 13 public sensitisation campaigns and 33 stakeholder engagements involving traditional and religious leaders.
He added that the military issued 593 press statements, countered 15 cases of misinformation and released 10 public advisories to improve public awareness.
Reaffirming the military’s resolve, Uba said security forces would sustain operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence and crude oil theft across the country.
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“We remain committed to sustaining operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence and crude oil theft across the country,” he said, while urging Nigerians to continue providing timely and credible intelligence to security agencies.
Also speaking, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Anietie Iniedu, said the Nigeria Police Force recorded major successes against criminal networks during the first half of 2026 through intelligence-led policing.
According to him, the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team arrested 50 suspects linked to terrorism, kidnapping and armed robbery, while recovering 17 rifles, an anti-aircraft launcher and 111 rounds of ammunition.
He further disclosed that police dismantled a 33-member criminal syndicate involved in terrorism, cattle rustling and violent attacks in Kwara State, and also arrested suspects connected with the killing of three police officers in Taraba State.
Iniedu added that operatives rescued a kidnapped woman and her 12-year-old twin sons during an operation on June 6 after neutralising two kidnappers and recovering two firearms.
He said strengthened border security operations also led to the interception of 181 rounds of ammunition along the Abuja-Kaduna corridor, while collaboration with INTERPOL enhanced efforts against transnational crimes.
The police spokesman also revealed that operatives dismantled a railway vandalism syndicate and recovered about 60 tonnes of stolen railway materials valued at approximately N400 million.
The security agencies said the achievements reflected ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy through coordinated military operations, intelligence gathering, law enforcement collaboration and sustained judicial prosecution of terrorism-related offences.