The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating terrorism and related crimes, saying it will continue to pursue and prosecute those involved in acts of terror across the country.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, made the pledge on Monday after leading a team of government lawyers to the Federal High Court in Abuja for the ongoing mass trial of suspected terrorists.
“We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe haven for everybody,” Fagbemi told journalists.
He said the ongoing proceedings demonstrate that the administration is treating terrorism as a priority, describing the current exercise as the fourth phase of terrorism-related prosecutions under the government.
According to him, more than 600 suspects are expected to face trial in the current phase.
“For this phase, we have about 490 today and 84 tomorrow. This does not include the 102 carried over from the last phase, bringing the total to over 600,” he said.
Fagbemi disclosed that about 10 judges have been dedicated exclusively to handling terrorism cases to speed up the process while maintaining due process and judicial safeguards.
He expressed confidence that the judges would conclude the current phase efficiently, noting that the trial, which began on Monday, is expected to run until Thursday.
The minister added that convictions had already been secured in earlier proceedings and that a comprehensive record of outcomes would be compiled at the end of the exercise.
The mass trial is part of the government’s broader efforts to tackle insecurity. Earlier this year, about 500 suspected terrorists were tried at the Federal High Court in Abuja between April 7 and April 10.
