FG Vows to Intensify Anti-Terror Fight as Abuja Mass Trial of Suspects Begins
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating terrorism and related criminal activities across Nigeria as the latest phase of the mass trial of suspected terrorists commenced in Abuja.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), stated this on Monday after leading a team of government lawyers to the Federal High Court for the ongoing prosecution process.
According to him, the administration remains resolute in ensuring national security and preventing acts of terror across the country.
“We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that Nigeria remains a safe place for everyone,” Fagbemi said.
He noted that the ongoing proceedings demonstrate the government’s determination to tackle terrorism decisively, describing the current exercise as the fourth phase of terrorism-related trials under the present administration.
Fagbemi stressed that terrorism in any form would not be tolerated, adding that the government would continue to pursue legal action against those accused of threatening national security.
Providing updates on the scale of the exercise, the minister disclosed that more than 600 suspects are expected to face prosecution in the current phase.
He explained that about 490 suspects are scheduled for trial immediately, while another 84 will appear subsequently, in addition to 102 cases carried over from an earlier phase.
To speed up proceedings, Fagbemi said 10 judges have been assigned exclusively to terrorism-related cases during the exercise.
He assured that while the process would be accelerated, all proceedings would remain within established legal safeguards and judicial oversight.
The AGF also revealed that convictions had already been secured in previous phases and said a comprehensive record would be compiled after the conclusion of the exercise.
The current round of trials began on Monday and is expected to continue through Thursday.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that about 500 suspected terrorists were similarly tried at the Federal High Court in Abuja between April 7 and April 10 as part of the government’s broader effort to address insecurity nationwide.
