From Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal Government has secured 1,721 terrorism-related convictions since the commencement of its Mass Trial Programme in October 2017.
The disclosure was made on Thursday by the Director of Legal Services at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Mr Zakari Mijinyawa, during a joint security news briefing by spokespersons of the nation’s security, defence and law enforcement agencies in Abuja.
Mijinyawa said the terrorism trial programme, coordinated by the ONSA in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Judiciary and security agencies, has completed 10 phases of mass terrorism trials since its inception.
He explained that the programme was designed to ensure the speedy and transparent prosecution of terrorism-related offences while safeguarding the constitutional rights of defendants.
According to him, the government has not only secured convictions but has also discharged or acquitted defendants where evidence failed to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, in line with due process and fair trial standards.
He said the first three phases of the programme, conducted between 2017 and 2018, resulted in 366 convictions, while 882 defendants were discharged, five acquitted and 61 cases adjourned.
Mijinyawa added that phases four to eight, conducted between 2023 and 2025, produced 490 convictions involving terrorism financing, international crimes and sexual and gender-based violence.
He further disclosed that phases nine and 10, concluded in 2026, secured 865 convictions—representing more than half of all terrorism-related convictions recorded since the programme began.
According to him, the 2026 convictions alone exceeded the combined total of 856 convictions secured during the preceding nine years of the programme.
He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring accountability for terrorism offences while respecting constitutional guarantees, due process and the rule of law.
The joint briefing also highlighted significant operational gains by the Armed Forces of Nigeria in the first half of 2026.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, represented by Group Capt. Kabiru Ali, disclosed that troops neutralised 1,597 terrorists and insurgents and rescued 1,516 kidnapped victims during 14,221 operations conducted nationwide between January and June.
He said the operations involved coordinated land, air and maritime missions across the country and resulted in the recovery of 451 firearms, 16,726 rounds of ammunition, 161 explosives and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), thereby weakening the operational capabilities of criminal groups.
According to Uba, the operations covered major security flashpoints in Borno, Yobe, Taraba, Katsina, Kwara, Zamfara, Sokoto, Plateau, Benue, Niger, Oyo, and Kaduna states through intelligence-driven operations, clearance missions, targeted raids and rescue operations. He said troops rescued 261 kidnapped victims from terrorist enclaves, neutralised 412 Boko Haram and ISWAP fighters, arrested 332 terrorists and recovered weapons, motorcycles and livestock.
He added that sustained military pressure forced 132 Boko Haram and ISWAP members to surrender, while explosive ordnance teams safely detonated 31 improvised explosive devices.
Beyond combat operations, Uba said the military implemented 33 peacebuilding initiatives, organised 13 public sensitisation campaigns and held 33 stakeholder engagements with traditional and religious leaders to strengthen civil-military relations.
He also revealed that the Armed Forces issued 593 press releases, countered 15 cases of misinformation and released 10 public advisories to improve public awareness and strategic communication.
Reaffirming the military’s determination to sustain offensive operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence and crude oil theft, Uba urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue providing timely and actionable intelligence to security agencies.
Also speaking, the Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Iniedu Okokon, said the Nigeria Police Force recorded major successes through intelligence-led policing during the review period.
He said police operations led to the arrest of thousands of criminal suspects, the rescue of kidnapped victims and the recovery of firearms, ammunition and other exhibits across the country.
According to him, the Force Intelligence Department’s Intelligence Response Team arrested 50 suspects linked to terrorism, kidnapping and armed robbery, recovering 17 rifles, an anti-aircraft launcher and 111 rounds of ammunition.
Okokon disclosed that police also dismantled a 33-member criminal network involved in terrorism, cattle rustling and violent attacks in Kwara State and arrested suspects connected with the murder of three police officers in Taraba State.
He added that operatives rescued a kidnapped woman and her 12-year-old twin sons during an operation on June 6, neutralising two kidnappers and recovering two firearms.
The police spokesperson further said strengthened border security operations led to the interception of 181 rounds of ammunition along the Abuja-Kaduna corridor, while collaboration with INTERPOL was enhanced to combat transnational crimes.
He also disclosed that police dismantled a railway vandalism syndicate and recovered about 60 tonnes of vandalised railway materials valued at approximately ₦400 million.
