A court in Nigeria's capital Abuja on Friday convicted nearly 400 terrorism suspects in a mass trial that spanned four days. The proceedings involved a panel of 10 judges, with many of those convicted receiving prison terms of up to 20 years.

Nigeria's Attorney General, Lateef Fagbemi, provided details on the trial outcomes, stating, "We brought 508 cases to court and out of this number, we were able to secure 386 convictions, eight discharges, two acquittals, and 112 cases to the next session or phase." He added, "We have been able to bring justice to them, or bring them to justice. So this is the clear signal that we are sending."

International observers, including representatives from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Amnesty International, and the Nigerian Bar Association, monitored the court proceedings to ensure fairness in the legal process. Many suspects pleaded guilty to charges brought by the Nigerian government.

A 16-year insurgency has ravaged northern Nigeria, killing tens of thousands, displacing two million people, and causing significant damage to the local economy. Islamist groups such as Boko Haram and its offshoot, the so-called Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have been active for nearly two decades.

Their campaign to establish a caliphate in the country has claimed the lives of tens of thousands and displaced millions across the northeast. Additionally, disputes over land and grazing between predominantly Muslim Fulani herders and largely Christian farming communities frequently escalate into deadly clashes in the north-central and northwestern regions. Criminal gangs engaged in kidnapping for ransom are also active in the area.

Source: www.dw.com