11 Years After Nyanya Bombings, Justice Still Eludes Victims

Eleven years after the deadly Nyanya twin bombings that claimed more than 75 lives and left hundreds injured, justice remains elusive for the victims and their families as the terrorism trial continues to drag on without resolution.

The attacks, which rocked Nyanya, a suburb of Abuja, in April 2014, led to multiple arrests and arraignments. However, the case has been marred by prosecutorial lapses, frequent adjournments, and systemic inefficiencies that have stalled progress for over a decade.

Legal analysts have described the prolonged trial as both “tragic” and “avoidable.”

Mrs. Yemisi Lawal, a criminal law expert, said the Nyanya bombings are just one example of how Nigeria’s justice system fails victims of mass atrocities.
“It is unacceptable that a case involving mass murder is still dragging after 11 years,” she said, blaming poor prosecution preparedness, endless adjournments, and mid-trial judge transfers.

Lawal stressed the need for constitutional reform to stop cases from restarting whenever judges are reassigned. “The current approach leads to needless repetition and wastage,” she added.

Mrs. Favour Okonkwo, another lawyer with experience in terrorism cases, echoed the concerns, saying Nigeria urgently needs special terrorism courts.
“If we can have special anti-corruption courts, then we can also designate terrorism courts with fixed judges and strict timelines,” she said.

Although the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), introduced in 2015, was designed to fast-track trials by limiting adjournments, experts argue that enforcement has been weak.

Mr. Kosun Bako, a legal analyst, noted that underfunded prosecution teams, lack of forensic support, and poor logistics have slowed down terrorism trials.
“Many prosecution teams are overburdened and have no witness protection or proper case management systems. This makes it difficult to prove complex cases in court,” he explained.

Bako urged the Federal Government to establish a dedicated terrorism trial fund, similar to election tribunals, to support witness transport, digital case management, and forensic evidence gathering.

Beyond the technical challenges, victims and their families continue to wait in frustration, with many feeling forgotten in the pursuit of justice.