Hundreds of Islamist militants went on trial with prosecutors securing 386 convictions. Nigeria is in the midst of an insurgency involving extremist militant groups, including Boko Haram.
A court in Nigeria’s capital Abuja on Friday convicted nearly 400 terrorism suspects in a mass trial that took place over four days.
Many of those convicted received prison terms of up to 20 years after appearing before a panel of 10 judges.
The prosecutions, which got underway on Tuesday, are part of a series of trials involving Boko Haram and so-called Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) suspects.
Out of 508 cases, 386 convictions secured
“We brought 508 cases to court and out of this number, we were able to secure 386 convictions, eight discharges, two acquittals and 112 cases to the next session or phase,” Nigeria’s Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi.
“We have been able to bring justice to them, or bring them to justice. So this is the clear signal that we are sending,” Fagbemi said.
Many suspects pleaded guilty to charges brought against them by the Nigerian government.
Court officials said that International observers, including representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Amnesty International, the Nigerian Bar Association, monitored the court proceedings to ensure the legal process was fair.
Nigeria’s complex security situation
A 16-year insurgency has ravaged northern Nigeria, killing tens of thousands, displacing two million, and causing major damage to the local economy.
Islamist groups like Boko Haram and its offshoot the so-called Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) have been active for nearly two decades.
Their campaign to establish a caliphate in the country has claimed the lives of tens of thousands of people and displaced millions across the country’s northeast.
There are also disputes over land and grazing between mostly Muslim Fulani herders and largely Christian farming communities.
These disputes frequently escalate into deadly clashes in the north-central and northwestern part of the country.
Criminal gangs who kidnap for ransom are also active.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/nigeria-terror-trial-nearly-400-terror-suspects-convicted/a-76748309
