Defence Minister seeks sustained global support for terrorism victims

Minister of Defence, retired Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa, has urged the global community to establish sustained support systems for victims and survivors of terrorism.

According to a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Leah Latung- Babatunde, Gen 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.

The statement explained that the meeting was co-convened by Spain and Iraq to strengthen international responses to the needs of victims and survivors of terrorism.

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Gen Musa said the international community must move beyond short-term humanitarian relief to sustained measures addressing the long-term needs of terrorism survivors.

“Behind these figures are families displaced, livelihoods destroyed, communities fractured, and lives permanently changed,” he said.

The minister said Sub-Saharan Africa accounted for about 60 per cent of global terrorism deaths in 2025, underscoring the disproportionate burden borne by the continent.

He said Nigeria had secured 865 terrorism-related convictions in 2026, demonstrating the country’s commitment to accountability in the fight against terrorism.

He reaffirmed that Nigeria also remained committed to rescuing captives and providing comprehensive post-rescue support, including medical care, psychosocial rehabilitation, economic assistance and community reintegration.

While drawing from Nigeria’s experience, he proposed a three-point framework for stronger international cooperation, comprising enhanced peer learning, inclusive partnerships and targeted UN support.

He advocated institutional mechanisms for member states to share operational models, referral systems and lessons learned, including approaches that failed to achieve their intended outcomes.

Musa said direct feedback channels and partnerships among national authorities, civil society and victims’ associations would strengthen survivor participation in justice and rehabilitation efforts.

He also called for expanded UN technical assistance, capacity building and resource mobilisation tailored to countries bearing the heaviest burden of terrorism.

The minister commended UN initiatives, including the UNOCT Global Victims of Terrorism Support Programme and Victims of Terrorism Associations Network.

He also acknowledged Germany’s support for developing the Toolkit for Technology-Enabled Support to Victims of Terrorism.

Musa reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness to share its experience and collaborate with international partners in strengthening support for terrorism victims and survivors.

He expressed optimism about the International Conference on Victims of Terrorism scheduled to hold in Baghdad, Iraq, in the fourth quarter of 2026.