Over 14, 600 suspects to be prosecuted for terrorism in Northeast
By Njadvara MUSA, Maiduguri
No less than 14, 809 suspected insurgents are to be prosecuted for terrorism and other criminal activities in the Northeast.
Unveiling the prosecution, at the weekend (Friday), in Maiduguri, the Theatre Commander, Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), Maj-Gen. Christopher Musa disclosed that; 70, 593 persons comprising Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists and their families have surrendered to the Army.”
He said that out of the surrendered ones, over 14,800 arrested suspects were however active terrorists, while 20,955 are women with 35, 209 children.
The Commander noted that some of the detained terrorists have been cleared by the Theatre Command in conjunction with the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation.
“We’ve begun the review of the cases of detainees at the joint investigation centre,” he said, adding that the cleared suspects have been handed over to the Borno state government and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
On arrests of suspects, he said: “On July 13, 2022, Haruna Fulani and Usman, are suspects for logistics supplies to Commander Adamu Ngulde at the Mandara Mountains in Gwoza Council,” stating that items recovered include 13 bales of wrappers, 15 yards of black curtain clothes, underwears and 25 pairs of rubber shoes.
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He said that since the inception of Operation Desert Sanity, the terrorists have been degraded to the point that they can no longer carry out successful combat operations.
According to him, the terrorists are in small circles to harass and commit criminal activities, including abduction for ransom.
“The terrorists are mainly looking for food and logistics,” he said; explaining that as a result of sustainable operations of the troops, many terrorists were neutralized during the clearance of the recent clearance operations.
Besides, he added that the insurgents continue to relocate from one enclave to another, seeking alternative hideouts and temporary shelter in the theatre.
According to him, the rainy season has also pushed the terrorists out of their comfort zones.
He, therefore, called on the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF, the air and maritime components, paramilitary establishments, humanitarian agencies, local communities and the media to provide the much-needed support to end the war.
On the successes of operations, he said: “Troops have conducted several operations on land, air and maritime, including patrols and clearance operations with 60 terrorists neutralized.”
He added that over 120 suspected terrorists were arrested along with their logistic supporters and informants.
The rescued three Chibok girls and their four children were also handed over to the Borno state government.
Hanatu Musa, 26, Kauna Luka, 38 and Ruth Bitrus were rescued by the Army on June 27 and July 25, 2022, in the forest after spending eight years in captivity by Boko Haram.
