Islamists convicted in Nigeria

Almost 400 Islamic militants in Nigeria have been convicted for terror-related offences following a mass trial at the Federal High Court in the nation’s capital city.

Lateef Fagbemi, the country’s Attorney General, said that 386 convictions had been secured after 508 cases were heard during the four-day proceedings in what some are hoping signals a state crackdown on Islamic extremism in one of the world’s most notorious places for Christian persecution.

Of those who were not convicted, eight were discharged, two were acquitted and 112 had their cases postponed, as revealed by Open Doors. The cases were conducted in open court with witnesses from various advocacy groups there to see attackers sentenced for participating in and funding attacks, as well as for providing weapons or operational support.