Defence Minister: Nigeria Secures 865 Terrorism Convictions in 2026
Nigeria secured 865 terrorism-related convictions in 2026, the Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retd.), has disclosed.
Musa revealed this while calling for a sustained, survivor-centred global response to violent extremism at a ministerial meeting of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The meeting, co-convened by Spain and Iraq, focused on strengthening international support for victims and survivors of terrorism.
In a statement signed by Leah Katung-Babatunde, Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Defence, the minister urged the international community to move beyond short-term humanitarian relief and establish long-term support systems to address the lasting consequences of violent extremism.
Musa said the impact of terrorism extended beyond immediate casualties, affecting families, livelihoods and entire communities.
“Behind these figures are families displaced, livelihoods destroyed, communities fractured, and lives permanently changed,” he said.
“Our task now is to ensure that the identified priorities and needs of victims, as well as lessons and good practices, are translated into sustained action.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s counter-terrorism and justice efforts, the minister said the 865 convictions recorded in 2026 demonstrated the country’s commitment to accountability.
He also reaffirmed Nigeria’s continued focus on securing the release of captives and providing comprehensive support to victims following rescue operations.
According to him, such support includes medical care, psychosocial rehabilitation, economic assistance and community reintegration.
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Musa noted that Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for approximately 60 per cent of global terrorism deaths in 2025, underscoring the disproportionate burden of violent extremism on the continent.
Drawing from Nigeria’s operational experience, the minister proposed a three-point framework for strengthening international cooperation on victims of terrorism.
The framework includes enhanced peer learning, inclusive partnerships and targeted United Nations support.
On peer learning, Musa advocated institutional mechanisms that would enable countries to share operational models, referral systems and lessons learned from their experiences in countering terrorism and supporting victims.
He also called for honest assessments of approaches that had failed to achieve their intended outcomes.
The minister said direct feedback channels and partnerships among national authorities, civil society organisations and victims’ associations would help ensure meaningful survivor participation in justice and rehabilitation processes.
He further urged the expansion of United Nations technical assistance, capacity-building and resource mobilisation, particularly for countries carrying the heaviest burden of terrorism.
Musa commended initiatives of the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, including the UNOCT Global Victims of Terrorism Support Programme and the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network.
He also acknowledged Germany’s support for the development of the Toolkit for Technology-Enabled Support to Victims of Terrorism.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s willingness to share expertise and collaborate with international partners, the minister expressed optimism about the International Conference on Victims of Terrorism scheduled to hold in Baghdad, Iraq, during the fourth quarter of 2026.
By PRNigeria
