FG SECURES OVER 700 CONVICTIONS IN TERRORISM-RELATED CASES ACROSS NIGERIA
By Anamati Inyang | RISMADAR News | November 10, 2025
The Federal Government has confirmed that more than 700 individuals have been convicted and jailed for terrorism-related offences across the country, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen counterterrorism operations and uphold the rule of law.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this in response to inquiries from The PUNCH on Sunday, noting that prosecutions are still ongoing in various courts nationwide.
According to information posted on the NSCDC’s official page, the Special Terrorism Court established to handle Boko Haram and related cases has so far held over seven sittings, securing convictions against more than 700 high-profile suspects. The court is now in its eighth session, hearing fresh cases linked to terrorism and violent extremism.
“The prosecutions of terrorism suspects are underway in courts across Nigeria – both at state and federal levels,” Idris said.
He added that the Department of State Services (DSS) has concluded investigations and is currently prosecuting several high-profile cases, including the June 2022 Owo Church attack, the Nyanya bombings, and the Yelwata attack, among others.
The minister further revealed that the Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and other security agencies are actively prosecuting hundreds of similar cases across the country. He emphasized that economic crimes such as oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and illegal bunkering are also being pursued vigorously.
Idris noted that the Attorney-General of the Federation is providing legal leadership and coordination across institutions to fast-track trials and ensure justice is efficiently delivered.
Nigeria has faced persistent security challenges over the past decade from insurgent groups such as Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), whose attacks have claimed thousands of lives and displaced millions, particularly in the North-East region.
In 2017, the Federal Government established the Special Terrorism Court under the Federal High Court framework to expedite the prosecution of terrorism-related cases. Some ongoing trials involve suspects linked to the Owo Church massacre, the 2014 Nyanya bombings, and the 2025 Yelwata killings in Nasarawa State.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s security situation has drawn international attention following recent remarks by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed that Christians in Nigeria face an “existential threat.” The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has since urged Washington to tie its foreign assistance to Nigeria’s human rights progress.
Despite international concerns, the Federal Government maintains that it remains committed to upholding justice, safeguarding religious freedom, and restoring lasting peace across all regions of the country.
