Federal High Court jails 386 terrorists in four days mass trial

The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted a total of 386 terrorists, mainly Boko Haram members, put on trial by the federal government in the last four days.

The convicted terrorists were sentenced to various jail terms ranging from five years to life imprisonment based on the gravity of the charges against them and their open Court confessions.

The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who confirmed this on Friday said that a total of 508 defendants were arraigned before ten courts between Tuesday and Friday.

Briefing journalists at the conclusion of the mass trial, Fagbemi said that eight of the defendants were discharged while two were acquitted from the charges against them.

The Minister of Justice further explained that a batch of 112 suspects whose cases could not be attended to would be arraigned along with others in the next phase of the mass trial slated for between June 15 and 18, 2026.

He said that the mass trial and the imprisonment of the 386 terrorists will serve as a signal to criminals that Nigeria has no space for heinous crimes like terrorism.

The Justice Minister praised the ten judges of the Federal High Court for sacrificing their Easter holiday to sit as special courts and in response to the clarion call of the federal government to them.

Fagbemi also said that international organizations, especially Amnesty International, Nigerian Bar Association, National Human Rights Commission and other civil Societies witnessed the proceedings to ensure that due process of law and transparency took the lead in the trial of the terrorism.

He equally thanked the media for the coverage of the proceedings.