Nigeria has secured convictions for 44 out of 54 individuals recently arraigned in Phase 7 of the Kainji Detention Facility Terrorism Trial, according to the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC-ONSA).
The remaining 10 cases were adjourned during proceedings presided over by four Federal High Court justices.
With these latest verdicts, the country has now recorded a total of 785 convictions for terrorism financing and related offenses—a clear reflection of Nigeria’s intensified efforts to dismantle terror financing networks through judicial enforcement
“The verdicts delivered resulted in prison sentences ranging from 10 to 30 years, all to be served with hard labour,” said NCTC spokesman Michael Abu, underscoring the severity of the crimes and the justice system’s commitment to accountability.
The trials, which commenced on July 9, saw the National Coordinator of NCTC-ONSA, Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, deliver opening remarks on behalf of National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
Meanwhile, Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Christopher Musa emphasized the link between poverty and insecurity during an operational visit to Adamawa State, stating that “hunger and poverty remain major drivers of insecurity” and noting that “non-kinetic warfare produces more sustainable outcomes” in counterinsurgency efforts.
He stressed that vulnerable populations are more easily recruited into insurgent groups and highlighted the need for governance that directly benefits citizens to strengthen national security.
On the kinetic front, Chief of Air Staff Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar disclosed that Nigerian airstrikes had eliminated at least 5,650 terrorists in the North-East and North-West over the past two years under Operations Hadin Kai and Fansan Yamma.
From June 2023 to date, the Air Component of Operation Hadin Kai alone neutralized 3,496 terrorists while destroying 775 structures, 218 combat vehicles, and numerous logistics hubs. Similarly, Operation Fansan Yamma accounted for 2,154 terrorists killed, along with 669 structures and 271 motorcycles destroyed. These operations were bolstered by the acquisition of 15 new aircraft, including attack helicopters and surveillance platforms, with an additional 49 expected by 2026—a significant boost to the Nigerian Air Force’s operational capabilities.
Further demonstrating the military’s multi-pronged approach, troops of the 37 NDA Demonstration Battalion intercepted three suspected gunrunners in Kaduna State, seizing nine AK-47 rifles, 389 rounds of ammunition, 17 rifle magazines, and ₦365,600 in cash. The arrests, based on actionable intelligence, dealt another blow to arms proliferation networks fueling terrorism and banditry. As Nigeria continues to combine judicial, kinetic, and non-kinetic strategies, these developments mark both progress and persistent challenges in the nation’s fight against.
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