Nigeria has called for a shift from short-term humanitarian relief towards sustained, survivor-centred support for victims of terrorism and violent extremism, as Defence Minister General Christopher Gwabin Musa (Rtd), urged the international community to build long-term systems for recovery, justice and reintegration.
A statement by the Special Assistant to the Minister on media, Leah Katung-Babatunde, said 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, co-convened by Spain and Iraq. 
The Defence Minister highlighted the disproportionate impact of terrorism on Africa, noting that Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for approximately 60 per cent of global terrorism deaths in 2025.
“Behind these figures are families displaced, livelihoods destroyed, communities fractured, and lives permanently changed.
“Our task now is to ensure that the identified priorities and needs of victims, as well as lessons and good practices, are translated into sustained action,” General Musa said.
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Highlighting Nigeria’s domestic counter-terrorism and justice efforts, General Musa disclosed that the country recorded 865 terrorism-related convictions in 2026 alone, describing the figure as evidence of Nigeria’s commitment to accountability.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s focus on the liberation of captives while stressing the importance of comprehensive post-rescue support, including medical care, psychosocial rehabilitation, economic assistance and community reintegration.
Drawing from Nigeria’s counter-terrorism experience, the Defence Minister proposed a three-point framework centred on Enhanced Peer Learning, Inclusive Partnerships and Targeted UN Support.
Under enhanced peer learning, he advocated institutional mechanisms through which Member States can exchange operational models, referral systems and lessons learned, including assessments of approaches that failed to produce their intended outcomes.
He also called for direct feedback channels and stronger working relationships among national authorities, civil society organisations and victims’ associations to ensure meaningful survivor participation in justice and rehabilitation processes.
On targeted UN support, General Musa called for expanded technical assistance, capacity building and resource mobilisation tailored specifically to countries carrying the heaviest burdens of terrorism.
General Musa commended United Nations initiatives, including the UNOCT Global Victims of Terrorism Support Programme and the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network, as well as Germany’s support for developing the Toolkit for Technology-Enabled Support to Victims of Terrorism.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to share its experience and strengthen international cooperation on victim support, while expressing optimism about the International Conference on Victims of Terrorism scheduled to take place in Baghdad, Iraq, in the fourth quarter of 2026.
