Nigeria Records 775 Terrorism Convictions in Eight Phases of Trials – Gen. Laka
The National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), says Nigeria has secured 775 convictions from eight phases of terrorism-related trials.
National Coordinator of the Centre, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of a regional conference on Combating Emerging Terrorist Groups and Strengthening Sustainable Security in the ECOWAS Region and the Sahel.
The two-day conference, organised in collaboration with the ECOWAS Commission, brought together security chiefs, policymakers, regional institutions, and development partners to review strategies for tackling terrorism and violent extremism.
Laka said the convictions underscored Nigeria’s determination to pursue justice through lawful processes, while also creating opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant fighters.
“So far, we have conducted eight phases of terrorism trials with 775 convictions. This sends a clear message that terrorism will not go unpunished. At the same time, our approach recognises the need for non-kinetic measures such as dialogue, reconciliation, empowerment, and community resilience,” he said.
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He explained that Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts were anchored on a “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach that involved state institutions, civil society, religious and traditional leaders, the private sector, and youth.
While acknowledging the importance of military actions, the NCTC boss stressed that sustainable security required restoring trust in governance and addressing root causes of terrorism such as poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion.
Laka recalled that Nigeria hosted the African Counter Terrorism Summit in April 2024, which produced the Abuja Declaration and recognised the NCTC as a Regional Centre of Excellence for Counter Terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel.
He said the current regional meeting was designed to consolidate that mandate by deepening cooperation and producing actionable recommendations.
According to him, the conference is expected to provide a situational analysis of emerging terrorist groups, renew commitment to operationalising the ECOWAS Counterterrorism Force, and develop strategies for intelligence sharing and securing porous borders.
He added that mainstreaming youth, civil society, and the media into the regional security architecture would also be a key outcome.
Representatives from ECOWAS, the United Nations, and other international partners are participating in the conference.
By PRNigeria
