Nigerian Military Urges Immediate Trial Of Over 500 Boko Haram Suspects

A Joint Investigation Team set up by the Defence Headquarters on Wednesday recommended the immediate trial of over 500 Boko Haram suspects.  

The sect members were arrested during security operations carried out in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa States, the military said. ‪The Director, Defence Information, Chris Olukolade,
in a statement said the suspects are among the almost 1,400 detainees screened by the team of investigators at the detention facilities in the states between July and September.
A 19-member body was set up in July. It comprised military, police, officials of Federal and State Ministries of Justice, Immigration, Prisons and Customs officers. ‪
The team's task was to examine, classify and recommend appropriate actions against detainees apprehended during operations in the North East.  ‪
‪According to Mr. Olukolade, the suspects recommended for trial include high profile suspects, some of whom were training other terrorists in weapon handling, and also those, who confessed that they were trained in Mali and other countries for the purpose of terrorizing Nigeria.
‪Additionally, the group recommended to release 167 of the detainees from detention and to review about 614 inconclusive cases.  ‪
Commenting on the report, the ‪Chief of Defence Staff, Ola Ibrahim, said that the recommendations would be treated with dispatch after due consultations with appropriate authorities.  ‪
According to his words, the report has been forwarded to the Presidency through the office of National Security Adviser (NSA). ‪
The Boko Haram sect has waged an insurgency against the government, killing thousands of civilians and security personnel.
A state of emergency was declared in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe in May to curb the insurgency.
The most recent attack by the Boko Haram on Monday saw attacks on military facilities and an airport.



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