Nigeria has successfully secured convictions for 44 out of 54 individuals recently brought to trial in Phase 7 of the Kainji Detention Facility Terrorism Trial, as reported by the National Counter Terrorism Centre – Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA).
In a related statement, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Christopher Musa highlighted that poverty and hunger are significant contributors to insecurity in Nigeria, noting that vulnerable populations are more susceptible to recruitment by insurgent groups. He asserted that non-kinetic warfare strategies tend to yield more sustainable results in addressing these security challenges.
Air Marshal Hasan Abubakar, Chief of the Air Staff (CAS), revealed that airstrikes from the Air Component of Operations Hadin Kai and Fansan Yamma have resulted in the deaths of approximately 5,650 terrorists over the past two years across the North-east and North-west operational theatres.
A statement from NCTC-ONSA’s Head of Strategic Communication, Mr. Michael Abu, confirmed that with these latest convictions, Nigeria has now achieved a total of 785 convictions related to terrorism financing and associated offences. The sentences, which range from 10 to 30 years of hard labour, reflect the seriousness of these crimes and the commitment of the Nigerian justice system to uphold accountability.
The trials, which commenced on July 9, included remarks from Maj. Gen. Adamu Laka, the National Coordinator of NCTC-ONSA, representing National Security Adviser Mallam Nuhu Ribadu. General Musa reiterated that illiteracy and poverty are key drivers of insecurity, advocating for a dual approach of both kinetic and non-kinetic strategies in combating these issues.
In an update on military operations, Air Marshal Abubakar disclosed that since June 2023, over 3,496 terrorists have been neutralised, alongside significant destruction of enemy infrastructure, including 775 structures and 218 combat vehicles. Operation Delta Safe has also made strides in disrupting crude oil theft, positively impacting national oil production and the economy.
The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) continues to enhance its operational capabilities, having acquired 15 new aircraft in the past two years and with an additional 49 expected by the end of 2026. In the last year alone, the NAF has conducted over 1,974 counter-terrorism and counter-insurgency missions, yielding substantial results.
In a noteworthy operation, the 37 NDA Demonstration Battalion apprehended three suspected gunrunners in Kaduna State, seizing a substantial cache of arms and ammunition, including nine AK-47 rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition, underscoring ongoing efforts to combat the proliferation of arms and terrorist activities in the region.
