July 11, (THEWILL) — The Federal Government has commenced Phase 7 of the mass trials of terrorism suspects at the Kainji detention facility in Niger State, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s counter-terrorism strategy and reinforce public confidence in the criminal justice system.
The National Coordinator of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC), Major General Adamu Garba Laka, inaugurated the latest phase of the trials on Wednesday on behalf of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
Describing the exercise as a crucial step in Nigeria’s fight against violent extremism, Laka noted that the trials exemplify the government’s commitment to lawful and transparent prosecution of terrorism cases.
“It is encouraging to witness the judiciary, law enforcement, and legal practitioners once again united in a common cause. These trials are critical to our national objective of addressing terrorism within the bounds of justice,” he said.
Laka explained that Nigeria’s capacity to prosecute terrorism-related offences has significantly improved over the years, citing progress in addressing key concerns raised by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) regarding the country’s status on its Grey List.
Delivering further remarks on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, Laka expressed gratitude to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, the Federal High Court, and international partners for their sustained collaboration.
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), represented at the event by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar, also commended the multi-agency approach to the trials.
Fagbemi reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to ensure that justice is served—both for the victims of terrorism and for suspects undergoing trial—emphasising strict adherence to legal procedures and international human rights standards.
The Kainji Mass Trials, initiated in 2017, have become a key component of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism framework, enabling the prosecution of hundreds of Boko Haram and ISWAP suspects detained by security forces over the past decade.
Phase 7 marks another step in the government’s effort to clear the backlog of terrorism-related cases while promoting accountability, rule of law, and rehabilitation within the national security framework.
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