US Hails Nigeria Over 386 Terrorism Convictions

The United States has hailed Nigeria for accelerating the prosecution of terrorism-related cases, following the conviction of 386 suspects in recent mass trials.

The commendation was posted in a statement published via X on Sunday by Massad Boulos, the US Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, who noted that Washington welcomed the development, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening accountability and justice.

“The United States commends the Nigerian government for its strong commitment to expediting trials addressing terrorism and related crimes. We welcome the convictions of 386 Islamist militants in cases that had previously faced significant delays in the courts,” the statement reads.

“We believe that timely and transparent legal processes are critical in confronting extremism and reinforcing public trust in judicial institutions. Upholding the rule of law remains essential to ensuring the safety, stability, and long-term security of all Nigerians.”

TheMatrix Newspaper reports that Lateef Fagbemi, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, had on Friday disclosed that the federal government secured 386 convictions out of 508 terrorism-related cases brought before the courts.

The mass trials mark one of the largest coordinated efforts by Nigerian authorities to address a backlog of terrorism cases, many of which had lingered in the judicial system for years.