Nigeria convicts nearly 400 on terrorism charges as murders of Christians continue
By Diana Chandler - Posted at Baptist Press : Published April 21, 2026 ABUJA, Nigeria (BP) – A Nigerian federal court convicted nearly 400 individuals on terrorism charges this month in what persecution watchdog International Christian Concern (ICC) said is one of the largest criminal crackdowns in the nation’s history, but none appeared to face murder charges. The Abuja high court convicted 386 individuals linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), ICC and others reported, with those convicted sentenced to prison terms spanning five years to life. Those sentenced were among 508 individuals arrested, with 112 cases adjourned, indicating postponement. Two were found not guilty, and eight were dismissed, ICC said. The convictions followed the murder of an estimated 157 Christians since Palm Sunday in rural communities in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, ICC reported after the April 10 convictions, saying that the Nigerian government must admit that the murders are rel...
