Nigeria is currently holding about 5,000 people suspected of terrorism-related crimes in pre-trial detention facilities nationwide, according to the National Security Adviser (NSA). The figure was disclosed in the 2025–2030 Strategic Plan of the National Counter-Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Abuja on Thursday..
The disclosure comes against the backdrop of improved judicial outcomes in terrorism cases, with Nigeria recording an 84 percent conviction rate in 2024, which is a significant increase from previouDespite the progress, the NSA noted that the large number of detainees had created a considerable backlog of cases. However, enhanced collaboration among the NCTC, Defence Headquarters and the Federal Ministry of Justice had strengthened case reviews and accelerated prosecutions.
Data from the strategic plan show that 393 terrorism-related cases were prosecuted in 2024 alone, resulting in 329 convictions. At the same time, charges against approximately 1,200 detainees were dropped after legal review, leading to their release and reintegration into society.
The document stated that the backlog stemmed largely from the continued detention of suspects awaiting trial. It added that the NCTC had been actively coordinating terrorism trials conducted by the Federal High Court sitting at Wawa Military Cantonment in Kainji, Niger State, as well as in Abuja.
According to the NCTC, the gains recorded in 2024 reflected a major turnaround in Nigeria’s counterterrorism justice system. The conviction rate rose sharply from 41.5 percent in 2018 to 84 percent in 2024, underscoring improved inter-agency cooperation, stronger evidence handling, and a more efficient legal framework.
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The strategic plan further confirmed that legal reviews led to the dismissal of charges against about 1,200 individuals. These detainees were subsequently released and resettled within their communities.
Beyond prosecutions, the NCTC announced plans to establish a National Database on Terrorism that would incorporate DNA profiling. The initiative is aimed at enhancing investigations, intelligence-sharing, and prosecution of terrorist networks.
The proposed database will be housed within the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) and will function as a central repository for information on known and suspected terrorists. It is expected to store comprehensive personal data, including biometrics and DNA profiles where available, as well as intelligence on terrorist operations and tactics.
The NCTC noted that Nigeria currently lacked a unified terrorism database accessible to all counterterrorism agencies. The National Counter-Terrorism Strategy (NACTEST) identified this gap, prompting the NSA to mandate the NCTC to establish the platform under NACTEST’s “Identify” and “Implement” pillars.
Information for the database will be sourced from detention and correctional centres, law enforcement agencies, security partners, and intelligence generated by the Directorate of Intelligence.
In addition, the strategic plan highlighted the importance of the NCTC’s National Operations Centre, a technology-driven facility that supports coordinated counterterrorism responses. The centre provides real-time intelligence, situational awareness, and command-and-control capabilities during major security incidents.
