Borno Court Orders Release of 313 Suspected Terrorists Due to Lack of Evidence

The Federal High Court in Borno has issued a directive for the release of 313 individuals suspected of involvement in terrorist activities, following the military’s inability to provide sufficient evidence to prosecute them. The court’s decision underscores ongoing challenges in securing convictions against suspected terrorists due to evidential constraints.

According to the Defence Headquarters, troops engaged in various operations nationwide reported significant progress, including the neutralization of 121 terrorists, apprehension of 253 suspects, and rescue of 244 kidnapped hostages within a week. Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, Director of Defence Media Operations, affirmed the military’s commitment to complying with the court order and transferring the suspected terrorists to the Borno State government for further action.

This ruling reflects a recurring trend, as highlighted by previous instances where suspected terrorists were acquitted due to insufficient evidence. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, disclosed that out of 1,323 suspects prosecuted for terrorism, only 366 convictions were secured, with 896 individuals discharged due to lack of evidence.

In addition to legal proceedings, military operations in various regions have yielded significant results. In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralized 52 terrorists, arrested 137 suspects, and rescued 78 hostages, recovering a substantial cache of weapons. Similar operations in the North Central and North-West resulted in the elimination of terrorists, arrests, and rescues of kidnapped victims, accompanied by the confiscation of arms and ammunition.