Boko Haram members to be released from prison: Nigerian officials announce

12PUNTO FOREIGN NEWS

General Edward Buba of the Nigerian military announced on Thursday that more than 300 people suspected of involvement in the Boko Haram insurgency in Nigeria will be released after it was concluded that there was no evidence to prosecute them.

Major General Buba told reporters in the capital, Abuja, that the 313 detained suspects would be handed over to the Borno State Government in the northeast next week for processing, in accordance with the instructions of a high court in the city of Maiduguri.

Without specifying how long the suspects had been held, Buba said, "The court ordered their release due to lack of evidence following the conclusion of investigations and other matters."

WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT BOKO HARAM?

The Boko Haram movement, known for the kidnapping of hundreds of schoolgirls in the town of Chibok in the Borno region in 2014, has carried out numerous major attacks since launching an insurgency in 2009 aimed at overthrowing the government and establishing an Islamic state.

The militant group's cross-border raids led to the establishment of the 'Multinational Joint Task Force' about a decade ago, a military coalition consisting of Cameroon, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, and Benin. According to the UN, the insurgents have killed thousands of people and displaced more than 2 million in Nigeria alone.

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, implements various counter-terrorism strategies, including an amnesty program for jihadists who surrender voluntarily. 'Repentant terrorists' undergo rehabilitation before being reintegrated into society.

Last July, it was reported that Nigerian Chief of Army Staff Taoreed Lagbaja criticized the amnesty plan, claiming that it allowed criminals to reorganize to carry out further attacks in the troubled country.

News Source: 12punto