Can’t arraign Boko Haram suspects until… – IG

By KINGSLEY OMONOBI

ABUJA—Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said, yesterday, that detained Boko Haram members would not be put on trial until the anti-terrorism bill was passed into law by the National Assembly.

He also directed increased patrols and protection of worship centres across the country by AIGs and commissioners of police, especially in the North-West and North-East zones, as the Yuletide approaches.

He warned that attacks on churches and religious places will not be tolerated.

Answering a question as to why suspects of the sect were put in detention without trial, the IG said: “We cannot arraign them before any court until the anti-terrorism bill is passed.

“We want it passed because it will reduce the cases that have been pending and the number of detainees for terrorism crimes that we have.”

He said passage of the bill will enable quick prosecution of Boko Haram suspects.

He said: “It is a fact that we have improved security in many states of the federation. But states in the North-East, comprising Yobe, Borno, Bauchi and Adamawa, have serious security challenges.

“The states in the North-West, such as Zamfara, Kaduna and recently, Taraba, are giving us problems. All CPs are putting in their best.”

He said sanctions will be visited on Command CPs that failed to rise to the occasion in the fight against crime, robbery attacks and insecurity in their states.