Nigeria’s National Counter Terrorism Centre has announced that the country has conducted eight phases of terrorism-related trials, resulting in 775 convictions. This was disclosed by Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, National Coordinator of the NCTC, at a regional conference on combating emerging terrorist groups in Abuja. The conference, attended by security chiefs, policymakers, and development partners, aims to strengthen sustainable security in the ECOWAS region and the Sahel.
According to Laka, the trials demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to pursuing justice through lawful processes, while also providing opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration of repentant fighters. He emphasized that the country’s counterterrorism efforts are based on a “whole-of-government” and “whole-of-society” approach, which brings together state institutions, civil society, and the private sector to address the root causes of terrorism, such as poverty and social exclusion.
The NCTC boss noted that military actions are important, but sustainable security requires a more holistic approach, including winning hearts and minds, restoring trust in governance, and addressing the underlying causes of terrorism. He also recalled that Nigeria hosted the African Counter Terrorism Summit in April 2024, which recognized the NCTC as a Regional Centre of Excellence for Counter Terrorism in West Africa and the Sahel.
The current conference is designed to consolidate this mandate by deepening regional cooperation and producing actionable recommendations. The two-day conference is expected to yield a situational analysis of emerging terrorist groups, renewed commitment to operationalize the ECOWAS Counterterrorism Force, and practical strategies for intelligence sharing and securing porous borders. The conference also aims to mainstream youth, civil society, and the media into regional security architecture.
The conference has brought together representatives from ECOWAS, the United Nations, and other international partners, underscoring the importance of regional cooperation in combating terrorism. The outcome of the conference is expected to have significant implications for the region’s security landscape, as it seeks to address the evolving threat of terrorism and promote sustainable peace and stability. With the rising threat of terrorism in the region, the conference’s focus on strengthening regional security architecture and promoting non-kinetic measures is particularly timely and relevant.
