US Commends Nigeria Over 386 Terrorism Convictions, Pushes for Stronger Courts

The United States has praised Nigeria’s government after 386 terrorism suspects were convicted in a four-day mass trial in Abuja, calling the outcome a meaningful step toward accountability in a country that has spent years battling insurgent violence.

Massad Boulos, the U.S. Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, issued the commendation on Sunday. “The United States commends the Nigerian government for its strong commitment to expediting trials addressing terrorism and related crimes,” the statement read. “We welcome the convictions of 386 Islamist militants in cases that had previously faced significant delays in the courts, and we recognize this as an important step toward accountability and justice.”

The statement also stressed that “timely and transparent legal processes are critical in confronting extremism and reinforcing public trust in judicial institutions.”

508 cases, 386 convictions

The convictions came out of the ninth phase of terrorism trials at the Federal High Court in Abuja, which ran from April 7 to April 10. Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi told journalists that 508 cases were heard across 10 judges, even during the Easter vacation period. Of those, 386 resulted in convictions, eight were discharged, two ended in acquittals, and 112 were adjourned to the next phase scheduled for June 15-18.

Fagbemi framed the discharges and acquittals as proof that due process was being followed, not sidestepped. “Don’t forget that this is the ninth phase,” he said. “The 10th phase will come up between the 15th and the 18th of June by God’s special grace.”

Nigeria has long faced criticism for holding terrorism suspects for years without trial. The mass trial format, while raising its own due process questions, is a serious attempt to clear the backlog.

Strained bilateral record

The U.S. commendation also comes against the backdrop of a strained bilateral record on security. In late 2025, Donald Trump designated Nigeria a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act, citing extremist violence targeting Christians. The Nigerian government pushed back, insisting the violence was criminal and insurgent rather than religiously motivated, and that both Muslims and Christians were affected.

The timing matters too. Just days before the commendation, a Nigerian Air Force airstrike hit a civilian market in Jilli, on the Borno-Yobe border, killing dozens of traders. The gap between courtroom progress and conditions on the ground is hard to miss.

Boulos’s statement also pledged continued U.S. support for judicial reform in Nigeria, adding that Washington would back efforts to strengthen “judicial efficiency and fairness across the country.”

For ordinary Nigerians living in conflict zones, the real question is whether convictions in Abuja courthouses will translate into actual safety back home. That gap remains wide.

Sources: Punch, NaijaNews, Premium Times