CALL: News Flash Back 20th August, 2016

Governor Kashim Shettima has called on the Joint Investigation Team of the defence headquarters to free suspected insurgents in custody that are found to be innocent.

The Governor made the appeal today while receiving the team led by Brigadier General Abdulkadir Abubakar at the Government House.

Governor Kashim commended the defence headquarters for its bold steps in setting the team comprising lawyers and security experts for the sole purpose of protecting the rights of citizens detained as a result of the insurgency and ensure that innocent persons are not wrongly detained.

He said this is the first time the Military Authorities are coming up with such initiative towards guaranteeing of citizens rights,

Governor Kashim said Borno State has the highest number of arrested persons hence the need for those found innocent to be freed.

In his words “selective justice is the worst form of injustice”

Governor Kashim Shettima therefore directed the State Attorney General to immediately deploy some lawyers to enhance the manpower to speed up their work.

Earlier the leader of the team Brigadier General Abdulkadir Abubakar said the committee was setup by the chief of defence staff to find ways of handling those arrested during the insurgency period.

He said this is to ensure that their cases are handled through the best laws enshrined in the constitution.

The leader of the investigation than said the detainees are categorized as those for prosecution, witnesses or further investigation as well as deportation.

Some of them according to Brigadier Abdulkadir Abubakar will be tried at the Federal Court while others will be tried at the State Courts depending on the gravity of their offence and involvement.

He however said there is likelihood that the committee will recommend for trial of most suspects in the state based on their findings so far.

Brigadier Abdulkadir who promised to ensure justice in carrying out the assignment also commiserated with government and people of the state over the colossal loss of lives and properties as a result of the insurgency.

The team comprised representatives of all the security agencies and lawyers from Ministries of Justice from Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.