The Federal Government of Nigeria has continued to bolster its criminal justice system, securing convictions for 44 out of 54 individuals recently arraigned in Phase 7 of the Kainji Detention Facility Terrorism Trial.

This is contained in a statement by Mr. Michael Abu, Head of Strategic Communication, National Counter Terrorism Centre, Office of the National Security Adviser (NCTC-ONSA), on Saturday in Abuja.

Abu said the remaining 10 cases were adjourned during proceedings held across four courts, presided over by four Federal High Court justices.

He said the country had, with the recent 44 convictions, secured a total of 785 cases involving terrorism financing and other terrorism-related offences.

This, according to him, reflects the country’s intensified efforts to combat violent extremism, dismantle funding networks, and strengthen national security through judicial enforcement.

“The verdicts delivered from the trials resulted in prison sentences ranging from 10 to 30 years, all to be served with hard labour, underscoring the severity of the crimes and the Nigerian justice system’s resolve to uphold accountability and deter future transgressions.

“The trials commenced on Wednesday, July 9, with an opening ceremony during which the National Coordinator of NCTC-ONSA, Maj.-Gen. Adamu Laka, delivered remarks on behalf of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.

“The Attorney General of the Federation and Honourable Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), was represented by the Director of Public Prosecution of the Federation, Mohammed Babadoko Abubakar.

“Both officials reaffirmed Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to justice and its determination to confront terrorism through lawful and transparent means,” he said.

Abu said that 237 cases were heard, resulting in 200 convictions in the Phase 6 trials, adding that the convicted terrorists received a range of sentences based on the severity of their crimes, from the death penalty and life imprisonment to prison terms of 20 to 70 years.

He said their offences included heinous acts such as attacks on women and children, the destruction of religious sites, the killing of civilians, and the abduction of women and children during a brutal assault on the Gina Kara Kai community in Borno.

Voting activities have commenced at Polling Unit 007, located within St. Stephen’s Nursery and Primary School, Adeniji Adele, Lagos Island, where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is expected to participate in the ongoing local government elections.

The exercise, aimed at electing chairmen and councillors across the state, began promptly at 8:00 a.m. as scheduled. Officials of the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission, LASIEC, arrived at the polling unit on time and immediately began the electoral process.

Among early voters was Jubril Gawat, the Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the Governor, who cast his ballot at the same polling unit.

Security presence was visible at the venue, with police officers stationed to maintain order and ensure a peaceful voting environment.

The local government election is taking place across all 20 constitutionally recognized Local Government Areas, LGAs, and 37 Local Council Development Areas, LCDAs, in Lagos State.

Former Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, NCPC, Evangelist Tor Uja, has urged the Federal Government to reconstruct the Yelewata community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State that was recently attacked by armed Fulani herdsmen.

Evangelist Uja spoke when he led a delegation of interdenominational Christian leaders under the auspices of Remnant Christian Network to donate relief materials to victims of the attack in Yelewata and Makurdi.

He insisted that the Federal Government must reconstruct the community into a modern town through the construction of at least 1,000 housing units, a modern market, hospitals, schools, provision of enhanced security, as well as economic empowerment of indigenes.

Evang. Uja stressed that it was the primary responsibility of government to protect lives and property and that since the Federal Government failed the people in that respect, it must take up the task of reconstruction.

He called on the Benue State Government, international agencies, non-governmental organizations, churches, and public-spirited individuals to play complementary roles in the rehabilitation of the victims.

Uja recommended the separation of herdsmen from crop farmers as a permanent solution to incessant attacks on communities.

He lamented the idea of prolonged keeping of attack victims in internally displaced persons camps, describing them as degrading and inhuman, saying people should be kept in such camps for a maximum of one month.

Uja said the victims could be distributed to other safe communities close to them and provided with land and farm inputs to continue with their farming livelihood.

Yelewata community leader, Fidelis Dze, expressed appreciation for the visit and donated items.