Boko Haram/ISWAP: Expedite action as only 300 of arrested 50,000 terrorists have been prosecuted, Army Gen advises judiciary

By Eze Chukwu

The Director-General, Nigeria Army Resource Centre, Maj-Gen. Garba Wahab (rtd), has urged the judiciary to expedite judgement on cases made against suspected terrorists, stressing that it is the best way through which insecurity could be eradicated in the country.

Gen. Wahab spoke against the backdrop of reports that out of the over 50,000 Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists arrested by the military and other security agencies, only about 300 of them have been prosecuted.

Speaking during a two-day round table discussion in Abuja with the theme, ‘Asymmetrical National Security Challenges, the Army and National Development,’ emphasised that the judiciary must perform its sacred role of punishing terrorists to deter impunity.

According to him, “one of the ways to curb insecurity is that the judiciary must be alive to its responsibilities and the local government authorities should be allowed to function.

“It is regrettable that in a Nigerian court, it will take 20 years for a case to be adjudicated upon and persons who have committed clear and glaring offences get just punishment.

“That’s what is happening. A former President mentioned it, saying It takes 10 years for a simple case of stealing to be decided in Nigeria.”

Wahab insisted that local governments should be allowed to function, pointing out that localising security in the country would also help in curbing crime.

He added, “what we are asking those in government to do is to find a way of ensuring that the judiciary and local government are allowed to function well.

“When you allow local government to function, then you can localise the security architecture.

“In so doing, insecurity issues will be addressed at the battalion level.

“We should go to the battalion level because these battalions serve the State and so they relate with the state and local government.

“We shouldn’t wait till we get to Divisional Headquarters whenever there is a problem. Divisional headquarters in most cases are busy attending to five or six states.”