Following the mass trial of hundreds of suspected Boko Haram
extremists before a court at the Kainji military base in central Niger
state, the Ministry of Justice on Sunday announced the release of 475
suspected members of Boko Haram on the ground that most of the cases
against them were dropped for lack of evidence.
According to the ministry’s spokesman, Salihu Othman Isah, the
release order was issued on Friday, with the 475 suspects to be returned
to their home states for “proper rehabilitation” before being sent back
to their families.
He disclosed that they had been arrested on grounds that they either
belonged to Boko Haram, or had concealed information about the group’s
plans or its members’ whereabouts.
“However, the Prosecution Counsel could not charge them with any
offence due to lack of sufficient evidence against them. Therefore, the
suspects were released,” Isah said.
Among those released was a young girl with a three-month-old baby
from Borno State who was taken to a Boko Haram enclave by her brother
and married off to his friend when she was 11. She was arrested in 2014
while trying to escape.
Equally among those freed were two mechanics and identical twins who
were arrested in Bauchi State in 2010 after servicing a vehicle at their
workshop which belonged to a Boko Haram member.