Government Cracks Down, Commences Prosecution of More Than 600 Alleged Terrorists

The Federal Government launched a new wave of mass trials for hundreds of suspected terrorists in Abuja on Monday, with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, emphasizing that the administration will not take terrorism lightly.

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Fagbemi is leading the prosecution, while the Director-General of the Legal Aid Council, Aliyu Abubakar, is heading the defence team in the trials, which are taking place simultaneously in several courtrooms and are expected to last one week.

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A number of judges are handling the cases, including Justices Binta Nyako, Emeka Nwite, Musa Liman, James Omotosho, Obiora Egwuatu, and Ekerete Akpan, with at least 58 suspected terrorists listed for trial before Justice Nwite on Monday.

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Among those listed for trial are Abba Bukar, Abba Manye, Gujja Mala Bukar, Brem Gonimi, Isa Mohammed, Lawali Dashiri Danke, Yau Tukur, and Bello Liman, also known as Bell Doctor.

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The latest proceedings come barely two months after approximately 500 suspected terrorists were tried between April 7 and April 10 in Abuja, with Fagbemi stating that the trials demonstrate the Federal Government’s commitment to combating terrorism and ensuring the security of Nigerians.

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According to Fagbemi, the current exercise marks the fourth phase of terrorism trials under the administration, with the message being that terrorism will not be tolerated in any form or shape.

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The AGF emphasized that the government will fight to ensure Nigeria is a safe haven for everyone, with more than 600 suspects set to be tried during the current phase, including 490 on the first day and 84 on the second day, in addition to 102 carried over from the previous phase.

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Fagbemi provided a breakdown of the figures, stating that the total number of suspects to be tried in the current phase is over 600, with the judges assured to do their utmost to clear this number during the phase.

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The mass trial is part of the Federal Government’s efforts to prosecute individuals accused of terrorism, insurgency, and related offences as part of a broader strategy to tackle insecurity across the country.

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Meanwhile, two suspects were convicted and sentenced on Monday after pleading guilty to terrorism-related offences, with Justice Binta Nyako sentencing a 55-year-old farmer, Ali Mustapha, to 15 years imprisonment for concealing information about Boko Haram activities.

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Justice Nyako noted that Mustapha claimed there were no government officials or security agencies in his remote community to whom he could have reported the activities, and ordered that the 15-year jail term should take effect from 2013, when he was arrested and detained.

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In a separate case, Justice Nyako sentenced Isa Isiaka, a father of 11 children and husband of two wives, to 20 years’ imprisonment for failing to disclose information about Boko Haram activities to the authorities.

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Isiaka was convicted after admitting guilt to terrorism charges filed against him by the Attorney-General of the Federation, with Justice Nyako rejecting his plea for leniency and sentencing him to 20 years’ imprisonment without an option of fine.