Stephen J. By Bose, Chief International Correspondent of Worthy News
ABUJA (WORTH NEWS) – Hundreds of militants have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms on terrorism charges in the largest such trial in Nigeria in recent memory, as fresh reports of deadly attacks hit civilian communities, observers said on Thursday.
Worthy News learned that about 500 suspects were brought to a federal court in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, where a panel of 10 judges decided their fate.
Advocacy group Voice of the Martyrs Canada (VOMC) said, “Many of the accused submitted guilty pleas. Ultimately, 386 individuals were convicted, receiving sentences ranging from five years to life imprisonment.”
More than 100 additional cases were postponed, indicating that the judicial process is ongoing.
mass testing
Those convicted were identified as affiliates of Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) or Boko Haram – groups linked to years of insurgency and violence, particularly in northern Nigeria.
“For years, members of these terrorist groups have committed acts of violence that have destabilized entire regions,” VOMC told Worthy News.
The Nigerian government says religion is not a primary factor in the violence. However, human rights investigators and Christian organizations say that churches and predominantly Christian communities have been disproportionately affected.
“Groups seeking to establish an Islamic state consider Christianity a significant obstacle to their goals,” VOMC said.
central violence
The development of the trial comes amid new reports of killings in Plateau state in the central region of Nigeria.
Among the victims was Reverend Ayuba Choji of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA), who was killed along with his wife and two children during an early morning attack on Gako village in Riam local government area on April 27.
Reports indicate that armed assailants stormed the family’s home and opened fire before fleeing. Security forces reportedly arrived after the attackers fled.
The killings highlight the ongoing violence affecting communities in Plateau State, where residents report repeated attacks.
survivor account
One survivor, Lisa Stephan, said she was one of hundreds of women widowed in recent events.
His account was documented in a video released by Britain’s Channel 4 News.
She recalled how armed men broke into her house at night and attacked her family, killing her husband and seriously injuring others.
According to his testimony, the attackers entered the house by forcibly breaking the door.
wave of attacks
“They shot him and then stabbed him repeatedly,” she said of her husband.
Her children were also injured, one of whom is undergoing treatment in hospital.
Stephen himself was injured while trying to protect his family.
Their accounts reflect what residents describe as a widespread pattern of nighttime raids throughout the area.
targeted debate
Throughout Plateau State, residents report repeated attacks by armed groups, leaving homes destroyed and families displaced.
Local leaders say many women have been widowed and communities destabilized.
In this predominantly Christian area, residents believe they are being targeted because of their faith.
However, Nigerian officials deny that the violence is religiously motivated, attributing it to criminal activity and long-standing disputes over land and resources between farming communities and nomadic herders.
harassment ranking
Nigeria is ranked seventh in the annual World Watch List compiled by Open Doors, an advocacy group that tracks the persecution of Christians around the world.
The ranking reflects the ongoing insurgency in the north, violence in central regions and what observers say is inadequate protection for vulnerable communities.
Analysts say weak law enforcement, impunity and deep tensions have contributed to the crisis.
While some violence has been linked to disputes over land and grazing routes, rights groups say extremist ideology remains a significant factor.
Government response
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu recently visited Plateau State and promised to end the violence.
He said additional security forces would be deployed to restore order and prevent further attacks.
However, residents and survivors are skeptical after years of repeated violence.
Observers say lasting stability will depend on accountability and addressing the underlying causes.
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