The Federal Government has secured the conviction of 653 defendants in its latest mass trial of terrorism suspects, as authorities intensify efforts to prosecute individuals accused of involvement in insurgency and other security-related offences.
The convictions were reported as part of the government’s ongoing mass-trial programme, which seeks to address the backlog of terrorism-related cases before the Federal High Court.
The latest exercise follows earlier rounds of proceedings in which hundreds of defendants were brought before specially assigned judges to face charges connected to terrorism and related offences.
In April 2026, the Federal Government announced that 386 defendants had been convicted during a four-day trial exercise. A total of 508 defendants had been arraigned before 10 courts, while eight were discharged and two acquitted.
The current phase of the trials has also produced convictions for defendants accused of providing logistical support to Boko Haram and concealing information about the group.
In one case, the Federal High Court in Abuja sentenced Abba Mustapha and Bukar Ibrahim to life imprisonment, with an additional 20 years each, after they pleaded guilty to charges relating to support for Boko Haram and concealment of information.
Separately, 19 people were convicted in Kebbi State for offences including terrorism, unlawful possession of firearms and vandalism of electricity infrastructure. Their sentences varied according to the offences established before the court.
The mass-trial programme is coordinated through the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, in collaboration with relevant security and justice institutions, including the National Counter Terrorism Centre.
The Federal Government has maintained that the exercise is intended to speed up the administration of justice and ensure that terrorism-related cases are resolved through the courts.
The proceedings have also highlighted the importance of fair trials, with defendants entitled to legal representation and judicial determination of the charges brought against them.
