Military Neutralizes 212 Terrorists as Court Frees 313 Boko Haram Suspects

In a recent development, the Federal High Court in Borno has ordered the release of 313 suspected terrorists arrested by the military due to lack of evidence to prosecute them. This decision comes amidst ongoing efforts by the Defence Headquarters to combat terrorism across the country.

According to the Director of Defence Media Operations, Maj. Gen. Buba Edward, the military has made significant strides in its operations against terrorism. In the past week alone, troops neutralized 121 terrorists, apprehended 253 suspects, and rescued 244 kidnapped hostages in various operations nationwide.

Maj. Gen. Edward further stated that the military would comply with the court order and release the suspected terrorists to the Borno State government for further action. He emphasized that the cases were prosecuted by the Department of Prosecution, Federal Ministry of Justice, and that the release was ordered after the conclusion of investigations and other ancillary matters.

This development highlights the challenges faced by the justice system in prosecuting terrorism-related cases. The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), previously noted that out of 1,323 suspects prosecuted for terrorism, only 366 convictions were secured, with 896 others discharged for lack of evidence.

In addition to the court order, the military’s operations have yielded significant results. In the North-East, troops of Operation Hadin Kai neutralized 52 terrorists, arrested 137 suspects, and rescued 78 kidnapped hostages. Meanwhile, in the North Central, troops of Operations Safe Haven and Whirl Stroke killed 47 terrorists, apprehended 17 suspects, and rescued four kidnap victims.

In the North-West region, troops of Operation Hadarin Daji neutralized 62 terrorists, arrested 12 others, and rescued 162 kidnapped hostages. They also recovered a cache of arms, including rifles, guns, and ammunition.

The recent developments underscore the ongoing efforts by the military to combat terrorism and ensure the safety and security of Nigerians across the country.

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