MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – A Federal High Court in Borno, Nigeria, has ordered the release of 313 individuals detained on suspicions of terrorism, citing insufficient evidence to proceed with their cases.
The announcement was made by Major General Buba Edward, the Director of Defence Media Operations, during a press briefing on the military’s operations across the country on Thursday, March 28, 2024.
The court’s decision, emanating from Maiduguri, highlights the challenges faced in prosecuting terrorism-related offenses.
According to Major General Edward, the suspects were to be handed over to the Borno State Government for further action, following the judicial determination that the evidence gathered during investigations was not robust enough to secure convictions.
This development comes amidst reports of continued military engagement with terrorist factions in the region. Major General Edward provided an update on the military’s offensive against Boko Haram and ISWAP insurgents in the North-East, particularly in Borno and Adamawa states.
Over the past week, operations conducted by troops of Operation Hadin Kai have resulted in the neutralization of 50 terrorists and the arrest of several others across different local government areas.
In addition to the confrontation with insurgents, the military has also been successful in rescuing 78 kidnapped individuals and seizing a significant cache of weapons and ammunition.
The haul included various types of rifles, hand grenades, locally made explosives, and rounds of ammunition, showcasing the military’s relentless efforts to dismantle the operational capabilities of terrorist groups in the region.
The air component of Operation Hadin Kai has also been active, conducting air interdictions on terrorist hideouts in North West Arina Woje and Tumbum Shitu.
These operations, carried out with rockets and bombs, resulted in the destruction of terrorist logistics and the neutralization of several insurgents.
