By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), has called for sustained international support for victims and survivors of terrorism, stressing that assistance must go beyond immediate humanitarian relief.
Musa made the call on Wednesday at the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The meeting, co-convened by Spain and Iraq, focused on strengthening international support for victims and survivors of terrorism. The United Nations has also highlighted the need to amplify victims’ voices and strengthen their participation in counter-terrorism efforts.
Musa said terrorism has had a particularly severe impact on Africa, with families displaced, livelihoods destroyed and communities disrupted by violent attacks.
“Behind these figures are families displaced, livelihoods destroyed, communities fractured, and lives permanently changed,” he said.
The Defence Minister disclosed that Nigeria recorded 865 terrorism-related convictions in 2026, reflecting ongoing efforts to prosecute terrorism cases. The figure was also reported by the Office of the National Security Adviser in July, when it said the convictions came from Phases Nine and Ten of the Mass Trial Programme.
Musa said Nigeria’s response also prioritises the rescue of captives and support for survivors, including medical care, psychosocial rehabilitation, economic assistance and reintegration into their communities.
He proposed three areas for stronger international cooperation: enhanced peer learning, inclusive partnerships and targeted United Nations support.
According to him, countries should establish mechanisms for sharing operational models, referral systems and lessons from both successful and unsuccessful approaches to supporting victims.
He also called for stronger partnerships among governments, civil society organisations and victims’ associations to ensure that survivors have a meaningful voice in justice, rehabilitation and reintegration programmes.
Musa further urged the United Nations to expand technical assistance, capacity building and resource mobilisation for countries facing the greatest burden of terrorism.
He commended United Nations initiatives supporting victims of terrorism, including the Global Victims of Terrorism Support Programme and the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network, which the UN says brings victims and victims’ associations together to promote advocacy, resilience and peacebuilding.
The Minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to share its experience with other countries and expressed optimism about the International Conference on Victims of Terrorism scheduled to hold in Baghdad, Iraq, in the fourth quarter of 2026.
