High-level officials from around the world engaged in the global fight against terrorism are convening in Abuja at the invitation of the Government of President Bola A. Tinubu.
This gathering serves as an opportunity for reflection on the decade-long partnership between the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Government of Nigeria in the struggle against terrorism.
The “Supporting Nigeria in Its Struggle Against Terrorism” brochure has provided a comprehensive overview of the significant results achieved by the Nigerian Government, particularly its security and criminal justice institutions, through this collaboration.
In a foreword to the brochure, the National Security Adviser, His Excellency Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, underscores the importance of a united front in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism.
He acknowledges the trusted partnership with UNODC, which has grown over the past decade, as crucial to ensuring the long-term resilience and effectiveness of Nigeria’s criminal justice and security agencies.
Notable progress has been made by Nigeria in combating terrorism over the past eight years. The country has transitioned from being ranked 2nd in the Global Terrorism Index in 2016, as one of the countries most affected by terrorism, to 8th in 2024.
Over the past decade, the extremist group Boko Haram has unleashed a wave of indiscriminate terrorist tactics in northeast Nigeria, posing a grave threat to regional stability. The impact has been devastating, with loss of lives, shattered families, and destroyed livelihoods.
The dire situation has presented unique challenges for Nigeria’s law enforcement and security agencies, necessitating the adoption of new strategies and tactics to protect the population from terrorist violence and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Since 2012, UNODC has been delivering tailored technical assistance to Nigeria in its efforts to prevent and counter the threats of terrorism and violent extremism. The newly released brochure highlights the breadth of UNODC’s counter-terrorism work in Nigeria.
This includes training criminal justice and security agencies in conducting rule-of-law-based and human-rights-compliant investigations and prosecutions, providing technical assistance to policymakers on counter-terrorism legislation and national strategies, and collaborating with local civil society partners to prevent and counter violent extremism.
During this period, UNODC has conducted 321 capacity-building activities, training more than 6,000 officials.
The organization has also supported the Federal Ministry of Justice in reviewing close to 3,000 terrorism-related case files, resulting in the referral of 230 new cases for trial and the release of 2,100 adults and 580 minors from custody.
While significant strides have been made, there remains a continued commitment to holding those responsible for acts of terrorism accountable and supporting access to justice for victims. The partnership between UNODC and the Nigerian Government stands as a testament to the collaborative efforts in the ongoing fight against terrorism and violent extremism.