The National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), says Nigeria has concluded eight phases of terrorism-related trials, resulting in 775 convictions.
Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, National Coordinator of the NCTC, disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja at the opening of the Regional Conference on Combating Emerging Terrorist Groups and Strengthening Sustainable Security in the ECOWAS Region and the Sahel.
The conference, organised in partnership with the ECOWAS Commission, convened security chiefs, policymakers, regional institutions, and development partners to review strategies for countering terrorism and violent extremism.
Laka said the trials reflected Nigeria’s commitment to justice through lawful processes, while also creating avenues for rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant fighters.
“So far, we have conducted eight phases of terrorism trials with 775 convictions.
This sends a clear message that terrorism will not go unpunished. At the same time, our approach recognises the need for non-kinetic measures such as dialogue, reconciliation, empowerment, and community resilience,” he said.
He explained that Nigeria’s counterterrorism strategy was anchored on “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approaches, bringing together state institutions, civil society, religious and traditional leaders, the private sector, and youth.
According to him, while military action remains important, long-term security requires winning hearts and minds, restoring trust in governance, and addressing root causes such as poverty, unemployment, and social exclusion.
Laka recalled that Nigeria hosted the African Counter Terrorism Summit in April 2024, which produced the Abuja Declaration recognising the Centre as a Regional Centre of Excellence for Counterterrorism in West Africa and the Sahel.
He added that the current two-day regional conference was aimed at consolidating that mandate by deepening cooperation and generating actionable recommendations.
Expected outcomes, he said, include a situational analysis of emerging terrorist groups, renewed commitment to operationalise the ECOWAS Counterterrorism Force, improved intelligence sharing, and stronger measures for securing porous borders.
He noted that mainstreaming youth, civil society, and the media into regional security architecture would also form a key part of the conference’s resolutions.
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