By, Omowumi Hannah

The Federal High Court in Abuja has convicted a total of 386 terrorists 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.

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 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 a 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 added that the trials, conducted openly with the participation of key stakeholders, demonstrate the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability in handling terrorism-related cases.

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

The fact that you have discharges and acquittals speaks to due process. Anybody who is not guilty will not be sent to jail,” he said.

“These are not normal times. Yet, they answered the call to serve the nation. We are grateful for their commitment,” he said.

He stressed that the convictions send a strong deterrent message to individuals involved in terrorism and its financing.

“There is no space for terrorism in Nigeria. While we cannot stop them from going elsewhere, as far as Nigeria is concerned, we will not accommodate them,” Fagbemi declared.

Beyond punishment, the Attorney-General highlighted the government’s emphasis on rehabilitation, noting that many of the convicted persons were ordered by the courts to undergo de-radicalization and rehabilitation programmes.

He explained that this approach aligns with global best practices aimed at reforming offenders and reintegrating them into society.

The next phase of the trials is scheduled to hold between June 15 and June 18, as authorities intensify efforts to clear pending terrorism-related cases and sustain momentum in the fight against insurgency.