Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), has called on the international community to move beyond short-term humanitarian assistance and establish sustained, long-term support systems for victims and survivors of violent extremism.
Musa made the call at the Ministerial Meeting of the Group of Friends of Victims of Terrorism held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
The meeting was co-convened by Spain and Iraq and brought together international delegates to deliberate on strengthening support for victims of terrorism and improving global responses to the long-term consequences of violent extremism.
Musa highlighted the disproportionate burden of terrorism on Africa, noting that Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for approximately 60 per cent of global terrorism-related deaths in 2025.
“Behind these figures are families displaced, livelihoods destroyed, communities fractured, and lives permanently changed,” Musa said.
He stressed the need to translate the priorities and needs of victims, as well as lessons learned and proven practices, into sustained and practical action.
The minister also highlighted Nigeria’s efforts in counter-terrorism and the administration of justice, disclosing that the country secured 865 terrorism-related convictions in 2026 alone.
According to him, the convictions demonstrate Nigeria’s commitment to accountability while pursuing measures to protect communities and assist victims of terrorism.
Musa said Nigeria continued to prioritise the liberation of captives while ensuring comprehensive post-rescue support, including medical care, psychosocial rehabilitation, economic assistance and community reintegration.
Drawing from Nigeria’s operational experience, the minister proposed a three-point framework for strengthening international cooperation: enhanced peer learning, inclusive partnerships and targeted United Nations support.
On enhanced peer learning, Musa advocated institutional mechanisms through which member states could exchange operational models, referral systems and lessons learned, including candid assessments of approaches that had failed to achieve their intended outcomes.
He also called for stronger partnerships among national authorities, civil society organisations and victims’ associations, saying direct feedback mechanisms would help ensure meaningful survivor participation in justice, rehabilitation and reintegration efforts.
Musa further urged the United Nations to expand technical assistance, capacity-building and resource mobilisation, particularly for countries carrying the heaviest burdens of terrorism.
The minister commended United Nations initiatives, including the UNOCT Global Victims of Terrorism Support Programme and the Victims of Terrorism Associations Network (VoTAN).
He also acknowledged Germany’s support for the development of the Toolkit for Technology-Enabled Support to Victims of Terrorism.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s willingness to share its experience and collaborate with international partners, Musa expressed optimism about the International Conference on Victims of Terrorism scheduled to take place in Baghdad, Iraq, in the fourth quarter of 2026.
He said the conference would provide another opportunity for the international community to strengthen cooperation and develop more sustainable mechanisms for supporting victims and survivors of terrorism.
