Nigeria has called for a stronger global response to terrorism that places victims and survivors at the centre of long-term recovery, justice and rehabilitation, as Defence Minister General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd.), OFR, highlighted the country’s 865 terrorism-related convictions recorded in 2026.
Desk: Defence & Security
Date: 23 September 2026
Time: 20:59 WAT
Location: New York, USA
Author: Nokai Origin
General Musa made the call at the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where he urged the international community to move beyond short-term humanitarian assistance towards sustained support systems for people affected by violent extremism.
The meeting was co-convened by Spain and Iraq and brought together international representatives to consider priorities, needs and lessons from victims and survivors of terrorism.
According to a statement signed by the Special Assistant to the Minister of Defence on Media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, General Musa stressed the disproportionate burden of terrorism on Africa, noting that Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for approximately 60 percent of global terrorism deaths in 2025.
“Behind these figures are families displaced, livelihoods destroyed, communities fractured, and lives permanently changed.”
The Minister said the international response must translate identified priorities and the needs of victims into sustained action rather than limiting support to immediate humanitarian intervention.
Nigeria Links Counter-Terrorism To Accountability And Recovery
General Musa also presented Nigeria’s domestic counter-terrorism and justice efforts as part of the country’s contribution to the wider response to terrorism.
He disclosed that Nigeria had secured 865 terrorism-related convictions in 2026 alone, describing the figure as evidence of the country’s continuing commitment to accountability.
Alongside prosecution, he said Nigeria remained focused on the liberation of captives and comprehensive post-rescue support for survivors, including medical care, psychosocial rehabilitation, economic assistance and community reintegration.
The approach places recovery alongside security and justice measures, recognising that the effects of terrorism extend beyond the immediate period of an attack or rescue.
Three Priorities For International Cooperation
Drawing from Nigeria’s operational experience, General Musa proposed a three-point framework for strengthening international cooperation: Enhanced Peer Learning, Inclusive Partnerships and Targeted United Nations Support.
Under Enhanced Peer Learning, he called for institutional mechanisms through which Member States can share operational models, referral systems and lessons learned, including candid assessments of approaches that have failed to achieve their intended outcomes.
He also advocated stronger feedback channels and working partnerships among national authorities, civil society organisations and victims’ associations to ensure that survivors have a meaningful role in justice and rehabilitation processes.
On UN support, the Minister called for expanded technical assistance, capacity-building and resource mobilisation specifically tailored to countries carrying the heaviest terrorism burdens.
Nigeria Backs Wider UN Support For Victims
General Musa also commended United Nations initiatives supporting victims of terrorism, including the UNOCT Global Victims of Terrorism Support Programme and the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN).
He further recognised Germany’s support for the development of the Toolkit for Technology-Enabled Support to Victims of Terrorism, highlighting such initiatives as examples of international cooperation around survivor support.
The Minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to share its experience and work with international partners on strengthening victim-centred responses to terrorism.
He also expressed optimism about the International Conference on Victims of Terrorism, scheduled to take place in Baghdad, Iraq, in the fourth quarter of 2026, as another opportunity to advance international cooperation on the needs of victims and survivors.
Nigeria’s position at the ministerial meeting therefore connected its domestic record of counter-terrorism prosecutions and survivor support with a broader call for international systems that sustain victims beyond the immediate aftermath of terrorist violence.
🏷️ Tags: Christopher Musa, Victims of Terrorism, Nigeria Counter-Terrorism, UN Terrorism Response, Terrorism Convictions, Survivor Support, United Nations
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