Nigeria: Over 500 insurgents may be awaiting trial in Maiduguri 

By: Bodunrin Kayode

Chairman Nigerian Bar Association (NBA)  Borno State chapter, Modu Greema has expressed worries over about 500 captured insurgents awaiting trial in the Maiduguri. 

He told NEWSng in Maiduguri that it was the duty of the Attorney General of the federation Abubakar Malami to prosecute the terror offenders speedily adding that if there was any semblance of foot dragging, it was purely from Abuja and not from the north east war theatre.

The NBA chair noted that it was not good enough keeping these insurgents in the maximum correctional centre without trial because the longer they stayed under lock down the more they become endangered species to themselves and the generality of their relatives.

” I am aware that they must have started the trial processes in Abuja to prosecute some of them even before the kuje escape but unfortunately, it’s been going on at a very slow pace. Which is why they are yet to get to Maiduguri.

” We are really not happy that the prosecution is going on at a very slow pace. There are lots of theses captured insurgents in Maiduguri. I can’t give you the exact number but I believe they should be over 500 of them awaiting trial.

” We have been hoping that the courts will come down to Maiduguri to prosecute them but our wait has been endless. Still hoping that one day Abuja will realize that justice delayed is justice denied.

Spokesman of the Maiduguri correctional facility Bala Thiza however posited that they are no longer keeping the captured insurgents. 

He said that indeed, they once harboured them in their maximum facility but ” that was because the Army were still trying to fix their facilities which were not adequate enough to keep the captured Boko Haram insurgents.

” However as soon as they were done fixing their facilities, they came in here to pick all of them and they are the once keeping them.

” To answer your question on clarity, I can easily say that the once I am aware of were not up to 500. I can’t speak on the number of them right now but I don’t think they were up to 500 of them.

Meanwhile, following the release of 23 train passengers recently, it is believed that those captured insurgents awaiting trial in kirikiri correctional centre have been granted amnesty.

Asked if he was aware of the development coming on the heels of the escape of those kept in kuje correctional facility in Abuja, the NBA chair said he was not in the know because they were not carried along.

However details flying around the mills revealed that at “exactly 6am of the 8th of October 2022, about 101 Boko Haram terrorists held in Kirikiri prison since 2009 were set free.

This was as a result of what the correctional officials called Amnesty from the government for the freedom of the Abuja train passengers held by terrorists.

A newspaper name withheld reported that ” It is actually a prisoner swap demanded by Boko Haram, in exchange for the remaining 23  Kaduna train passengers kidnapped by the group on the 28th of March 2022.”

 According to the report, 104 Boko Haram terrorists were arrested by the Yar’adua/Jonathan’s govt in 2009, and transferred to Lagos. And the only condition with which they will release them is if the government releases their people.

” So out of the 104 sent to Kirikiri correctional centre, 3 allegedly died leaving 101 that were set free on October 8th.

” They were held up in both Kirikiri maximum & medium prisons. But by my records, they have never been to court in Lagos since 2009 till date. Never been prosecuted. 

“On the 29th of Sep 2022, 30th sep, 3rd of Oct, the Controller of the Nigeria Correctional Services, Lagos Command, Controller B.R Freeman, Met with about 40 of those Boko Haram terrorists, locked up in the Kirikiri facility.

Also Read: https://dailypost.ng/2022/10/12/19-iswap-terrorists-killed-as-troops-repel-boko-haram-attack-in-gamboru/

“Where he told them that they should get ready to go. That the Federal Government has granted them Amnesty, because of the upcoming 2023 election.

“That they should wait for further directives. After the last meeting on the 3rd of October 2022, the remaining 23 Kaduna train passengers, kidnapped by Boko Haram were released on the 5th of October 2022, by the sect, to keep to their own terms of agreement. 

“Controller Freeman came again to the prison on the 6th of Oct 2022, and on the 7th of Oct, to finalise arrangements with the terrorists. 

“They packed up their belongings, prepared themselves and waited. At about 6am today 8th October, the cells were open, and they were all set fee.” Said the report. 

Just recently, the Chief of defense staff General Lucky Irabor had signed a memo to the effect that the 23 captured train passengers have been freed.

The memo put to an end the tension associated with the demands by relations that their loved ones must be freed without a scratch.

Defected insurgents and the current amnesty

In a similar development, while others are desperate to return to their Comrades in the bush, the military has mounted a man hunt for all those who escaped from the Kuje prison.

Their faces have been displayed in all military formations in the country for anyone with information on their whereabout to report to them. No special carrot has been dangled by government for their report.

 Spirited efforts of the commanders of the war theatre of operations Hadin Kai has yielded massive results such that about 80,000 defected insurgents with their families are in the kitty of the military.

Theatre Commander Major General Chris Musa has severally convinced the insurgents in the bush to come out because there was no gain in starving themselves of their human rights and freedom in the bush.

A couple of Chibok ladies have equally come out of the Savannah within the last one year of operations Hadin Kai Commanded by General Chris Musa.

Nigeria: Over 500 insurgents may be awaiting trial in Maiduguri