Nigeria has called for a sustained global response to terrorism that places victims and survivors at the centre of counter-terrorism efforts, with Defence Minister, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), revealing that the country secured 865 terrorism-related convictions in 2026.
Musa made the call on Wednesday at the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and co-convened by Spain and Iraq.
The Defence Minister said the impact of terrorism extends beyond the immediate loss of lives, leaving families displaced, livelihoods destroyed and communities fractured. He noted that Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for about 60 per cent of global terrorism deaths in 2025, underscoring the need for stronger international support for affected countries.
According to him, Nigeria’s 865 terrorism-related convictions in 2026 demonstrate the country’s commitment to accountability, while efforts to rescue captives are being complemented with medical care, psychosocial rehabilitation, economic assistance and community reintegration.
Musa proposed a three-point framework for strengthening international cooperation: enhanced peer learning, inclusive partnerships and targeted United Nations support.
He called for mechanisms that would enable countries to share operational models, referral systems and lessons from both successful and unsuccessful approaches, while encouraging stronger partnerships among governments, civil society organisations and victims’ associations.
The minister also urged the United Nations to expand technical assistance, capacity building and resource mobilisation for countries carrying the heaviest burden of terrorism.
He commended initiatives by the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism, including the Global Victims of Terrorism Support Programme and the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network, as well as Germany’s support for the Toolkit for Technology-Enabled Support to Victims of Terrorism.
Musa reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to share its experience and collaborate with other countries, while expressing optimism about the International Conference on Victims of Terrorism scheduled to hold in Baghdad, Iraq, in the fourth quarter of 2026.
