U.S. Applauds Nigeria as Special Court Convicts 386 Terrorists in 4 Days; AGF Fagbemi Vows No Mercy for Insurgents as Next Trial Phase Set for June

Nigeria’s judicial system has “flipped the script” on the long-standing delays in terrorism trials, winning rare praise from Washington D.C. in the process. The United States Government officially welcomed the conviction of 386 Islamist militants by a Federal High Court in Abuja. The “Solution” to the mountain of pending cases was a high-speed mass trial that saw 10 judges sit through the Easter holiday to ensure that hundreds of suspects finally had their day in court.

The “Tsunami” of convictions has been described by U.S. Senior Advisor Massad Boulos as an “important step toward accountability.” In a statement, Boulos emphasized that timely and transparent legal processes are the “Renewed Hope” needed to confront extremism and rebuild public trust in the law. “Upholding the rule of law remains essential to the long-term security of all Nigerians,” he added, signaling that the U.S. is closely watching how Nigeria handles its internal “digital trenches” of insurgency.

Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, who led the prosecution team, noted that the exercise was a “Drill or Drop” message to criminals that Nigeria has no space for terrorism. While 386 were sent to prison, the process remained careful; eight defendants were discharged for lack of evidence, and two were fully acquitted. By “tinkering” with the traditional court schedule and using specialized panels, the government was able to process 508 suspects in less than a week.

As the military continues its offensive on the ground, this judicial victory provides a vital second front in the war against Boko Haram and ISWAP. For the victims of insurgency, the news that nearly 400 militants are now behind bars serves as a powerful reminder that the arm of the law is finally catching up. With the next phase of trials already marked on the calendar for June, the message from Abuja and Washington is clear: the era of indefinite detention without trial is coming to an end.