We’ll Fight With Every Inch Of Our Blood – FG Declares Total War On Terror, Prosecutes Over 600 Suspects

June 15, () — The Federal Government, on Monday, declared an all-out war against terrorism, vowing to deploy every available resource to crush insurgency and violent extremism across the country as more than 600 suspected terrorists face prosecution in an ongoing mass trial in Abuja.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, made the declaration while addressing journalists after leading a team of federal prosecutors to the Federal High Court in Abuja, where the latest phase of terrorism-related prosecutions commenced on Monday.

In one of the strongest statements yet from the administration of President Bola Tinubu on the country’s worsening security crisis, Fagbemi said the government would stop at nothing to eliminate terrorism and make Nigeria safe for all citizens.

“We will fight with every inch of our blood to ensure that we make Nigeria a safe haven for everybody”, the Attorney-General declared.

According to him, the ongoing trial sends a clear warning that the Federal Government is no longer prepared to tolerate terrorism in any form, stressing that the current administration considers the fight against insecurity a top national priority.

“The message is clear, direct and straightforward. It is that the present administration is not taking the issue of terrorism with levity. That is why you see the ongoing trials”, he said.

Fagbemi disclosed that the current proceedings mark the fourth phase of terrorism prosecutions since the present administration assumed office, describing the trials as part of a broader national security strategy to dismantle terror networks and ensure those responsible face justice.

“Let everybody know that terrorism in whatever form or shape will not be tolerated. It will not be condoned”, he added.

Providing insight into the scale of the prosecution, the Justice Minister revealed that over 600 terror suspects would face trial in the current phase alone.

He explained that 490 suspects were brought before the court on Monday, while another 84 suspects are expected to be arraigned on Tuesday. In addition, 102 suspects whose cases were carried over from the previous phase will also be included in the proceedings.

“Well, for this phase, the ones we have today, we have about 490. Tomorrow we’ll have 84. But this 84 does not include the 102 that was brought forward from the last phase. So in total, you have about 600 plus to contend with for this phase”, Fagbemi said.

In what appears to be an unprecedented judicial mobilisation against terrorism, the AGF disclosed that 10 judges have been assigned exclusively to handle terrorism-related cases and have temporarily suspended all other judicial responsibilities to focus entirely on the proceedings.

He assured Nigerians that while the government is determined to accelerate the process, the rights of all suspects would be protected and trials conducted strictly within the framework of the law.

“We have about 10 judges devoted to this case alone, and they are not doing any other cases apart from terrorism cases. I mean total devotion to the trial of terrorism cases”, he said.

Fagbemi further expressed confidence that the assigned judges would fast-track the proceedings without compromising due process, adding that the government had received assurances of full judicial commitment.

“I am optimistic, and I’ve gotten assurances from them that they will do no other than this one, and they are speeding up the process without compromising the necessary safeguards and oversight that they are meant to do,” he stated.

The Attorney-General also confirmed that previous phases of the mass terrorism trials had already resulted in convictions, noting that the government would compile a full record of convictions and other outcomes once the current exercise concludes.

He said the present round of hearings, which began on Monday, is expected to continue through Thursday.

“By the end of Thursday, we are optimistic that it will have gone very, very fine,” he added.

The large-scale prosecution comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to confront persistent security threats ranging from insurgency in the North-East to banditry, kidnappings and extremist violence affecting several parts of the country.

The latest exercise follows an earlier terrorism prosecution exercise conducted between April 7 and April 10 at the Federal High Court in Abuja, during which at least 500 suspected terrorists were arraigned as part of the government’s expanding crackdown on insecurity, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.