Nearly 400 individuals were convicted on terrorism charges by a federal high court in Nigeria, bringing a measure of accountability to those who have targeted Christians in the nation with violence.
While authorities had charged 508 people, 112 cases were adjourned, two were acquitted, and eight were discharged, resulting in 386 convictions, according to an April 16reportfrom International Christian Concern.
The group said that the prosecutions came as the United States pressured the Nigerian government to “curb terrorism within its borders and to more effectively protect vulnerable Christian communities caught up in the violence” from Islamic terrorists.
The Associated Pressreportedthat the terrorists were convicted in a mass trial in Abuja, the nation’s capital city.
“In total, we brought about 508 cases. Of these 508, we were able to secure 386 convictions,” Nigeria’s attorney general told reporters.
“We have been able to bring justice to them, or bring them to justice. So this is the clear signal that we are sending.”
Many of the terrorists have been sentenced to up to 20 years in prison by the 10-judge panel.
International Christian Concern noted that “Nigeria has faced significant internal violence for years, largely at the hands of terrorist groups and militant Fulani herdsmen.”
The unrest has resulted in tens of thousands being “killed or abducted by these groups, and hundreds of thousands have been internally displaced.”
The terrorists often target rural Christian communities, but Muslim citizens have also been impacted by the violence.
Source: VidNews » Feed
