Terrorism: US commends FG over convictions of 386 Islamist militants

The United States has commended the Nigerian government for expediting terrorism-related trials, following the conviction of hundreds of suspects in a special court process in Abuja.

In a statement posted on X on Sunday, the U.S. Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos, praised the development, describing it as a significant step toward justice and accountability.

“The United States commends the Nigerian government for its strong commitment to expediting trials addressing terrorism and related crimes,” the statement read.

“We welcome the convictions of 386 Islamist militants in cases that had previously faced significant delays in the courts, and we recognize this as an important step toward accountability and justice.”

The U.S. official emphasised the importance of efficient and transparent judicial processes in tackling insecurity and strengthening public confidence in the legal system.

“We believe that timely and transparent legal processes are critical in confronting extremism and reinforcing public trust in judicial institutions,” the statement added.

“Upholding the rule of law remains essential to ensuring the safety, stability, and long-term security of all Nigerians, and we support continued efforts to strengthen judicial efficiency and fairness across the country.”

The commendation follows remarks by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, who disclosed on Friday that 386 terrorism suspects were convicted by the Federal High Court in Abuja during a four-day mass trial.

According to Fagbemi, the convicts were among 508 defendants prosecuted by his office, representing a conviction rate of about two-thirds.

The trials were conducted as part of efforts by the federal government to address the backlog of terrorism cases and accelerate justice delivery in matters relating to national security.