Nigeria sentences 44 people to hard labour for financing Boko Haram militants

Nigeria Sentences 44 to Hard Labour for Funding Boko Haram Insurgency

A Nigerian court has sentenced 44 individuals to prison with hard labour for financing Boko Haram, the jihadist group behind years of violence and terror in the region. The country’s counter-terrorism agency announced the verdicts on Saturday, noting that the trials of 10 additional suspects have been postponed for later proceedings.

The convicted individuals were brought before four specially constituted courts located within a military base in Kanji, a town in Niger State in central Nigeria. The sentences ranged from 10 to 30 years, with all convicts required to serve time under hard labour.

Mass Trials in Military Courtrooms

This development forms part of a larger crackdown by Nigerian authorities on those accused of aiding terrorist operations, particularly Boko Haram. Since 2017, Nigeria has conducted mass trials for terrorism-related offences. According to official records, 785 convictions have been secured so far.

The military-run trials in Kanji are designed to fast-track terrorism cases while ensuring national security and limiting public exposure. The process has raised concerns from rights groups in the past over transparency, but Nigerian authorities insist that due process is followed.

A spokesperson for the counter-terrorism agency explained that all 44 convicts were directly linked to the financial networks sustaining Boko Haram’s operations, from fund transfers and logistics to providing material support for attacks.

Decades of Violence

Founded in 2002, Boko Haram has waged a relentless insurgency in Nigeria’s northeast, seeking to overthrow the government and establish an Islamic state governed by strict Wahhabi law. Over the past two decades, the group’s campaign of violence has claimed tens of thousands of lives and displaced millions across Nigeria and neighboring countries like Cameroon, Chad, and Niger.

Originally starting as a local religious movement opposing Western education and governance, Boko Haram grew into one of Africa’s deadliest terror organisations. Its brutal tactics include suicide bombings, mass kidnappings, and armed assaults on both civilians and security forces.

Notorious Attacks

Among the group’s most infamous attacks was the 2014 abduction of 276 schoolgirls from Chibok, an event that triggered global outrage and the viral #BringBackOurGirls campaign. In the same year, Boko Haram burned down a government college, killing dozens of schoolboys trapped inside the dormitories.

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The group was also responsible for the 2011 bombing of the United Nations building in Abuja, which killed at least 21 people and wounded over 60 others. Over time, Boko Haram split into factions, with some pledging allegiance to the Islamic State (IS) and operating under the name ISWAP (Islamic State West Africa Province).

Despite military efforts and international support, Boko Haram and its splinter groups continue to stage attacks, especially in rural and border communities. These incidents often go underreported due to restricted media access and ongoing conflict in the affected regions.

Government Response and Outlook

The Nigerian government has been stepping up both military operations and legal responses to curb terrorist financing and insurgent activity. Officials say that dismantling the financial structures behind groups like Boko Haram is key to weakening their reach and capacity.

Critics, however, argue that the trials must be more transparent and that tackling root causes like poverty, unemployment, and radicalisation is essential for long-term peace.

Still, the recent sentences are being framed by government spokespeople as a strong signal to others who support terrorism behind the scenes. Authorities vow that the legal crackdown will continue until all those aiding extremist groups are brought to justice.

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