The Federal Government has so far secured the conviction of 742 terrorists, 888 others acquitted and 92 facing trial since 2017, Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko, said on Monday in Abuja.
Terrorism had since 2010, escalated with a major attack at Eagle Square on October 1. Subsequent terror attacks by Boko Haram had occurred at the UN building and the police headquarters in Abuja, among others.
Babadoko gave updates on terrorism trials at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Abuja on Monday.
Presenting the counter-terrorism efforts before newsmen in Abuja on Monday, Babadoko said, “In October 2017, 50 were convicted; 203 were discharged/acquitted; 28 were adjourned. In February 2018, 203 were convicted, 582 were discharged/ acquitted and 24 were adjourned. In July 2018, 113 were convicted, 102 were discharged/acquitted, and nine were adjourned.
“In December 2023, 14 were convicted; one was acquitted; 10 were adjourned. In July 2024, 125 were convicted; none was acquitted, and 21 cases were adjourned. In December 2024, 237 were convicted; none was acquitted and no cases were adjourned.
“Some of these cases involve acts of terrorism, terrorism financing, and other criminal activities, for which some defendants were sentenced to terms of imprisonment ranging from 60 years to life imprisonment.
“It’s important to note that within the last year, during this administration, about 515 cases were disposed of, and over 800 individuals—whom we call clients, those who have served terms or were discharged/acquitted at various stages of trial—were moved to Operation Safe Corridor in Gombe for rehabilitation and reintegration, in accordance with the orders of the court and the policy of the Federal Government.”
On his part, the National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre, Major Gen. Adamu Laka, said a team of relevant stakeholders, drawn from different MDAs, were involved in the mass trial.
“These included judges of the Federal High Court, prosecutors, defence counsel from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, staff of the Office of the National Security Adviser, observers from the Nigerian Bar Association and the press”, he added.
Director of Legal Services at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), Zakari Mijinyawa, however, explained that “the whole process of Operation Safe Corridor and the DDRR (Disarmament, Demobilisation, Reintegration and Rehabilitation) is for those whom the court has found not suitable for prison.
“This is important information that should be widely known across the country. The media should help in spreading this message. The DDRR process includes psychological evaluations, family reunifications, mental health support, and economic intervention.
“If there is evidence and you go through the trial and are convicted, you serve your sentence”, he added.
