Crime & SecurityLaw & JusticeNewsNigeriaFederal Government Will Soon Arraign 5,000 Suspected Boko Haram In Detentions

The Director-General of Legal Aid Council, Aliyu Abubakar says the Federal Government will soon begin the arraignment of 5,000 suspected Boko Haram members in various detention facilities across the country.

Abubakar disclosed this during a courtesy visit to Borno Governor Babagana Zulum in the Maiduguri Government House.

“The legal aid teams have so far interviewed about 283 as part of the efforts to establish the extent of their involvement as well as to understand the nature of the crimes they committed.

“It was necessary for them to be represented by council to make sure that the official fulfills all the requirements of the provisions of the law.

“All evidence must be presented against them before the court of the law so that those that were found guilty are prosecuted and face the consequences of their action”, Abubakar explained.

“Their trial would be conducted by the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation, Office of the National Security Advisers in collaboration with the Theatre Command Operation Lafiya Dole, while the Legal Aid Council was mandated to provide Defence for the inmates during the hearing of the case.

Abubakar said that the inmates were detained at Giwa Barrack, Maiduguri and Kainji Correctional facilities among others over their alleged involvement in the activities of Boko Haram.

In his remark, Governor Babagana Zulum, said the government was ready to partner with the federal government to enable it to achieve its mandate.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Zulum, lauded the council for providing legal support to the people of the state while assuring them of the government’s commitment toward supporting the activities of the council financially.

“The federal government and other stakeholders should adopt sustainability plans in the Operation Safe Corridor program geared toward rehabilitation of persons connected to insurgency”, he said.

Zulum said that the lack of proper exit sustainability plans on the program has remained a major challenge hampering the success of the program in the state.