The Nigerian military has concluded investigations into no fewer than 1,450 terrorism-related cases at the Joint Investigation Centre, Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri, Borno State, with over 500 suspects already forwarded for prosecution.
The Commander of the facility, Brigadier-General Yusuf Audu, disclosed this on Wednesday during an operational briefing on the centre’s activities and its role in the country’s counter-insurgency campaign in the North-East.
Audu explained that the centre serves as a centralised hub for the interrogation and screening of individuals arrested in connection with insurgency operations, particularly those linked to Boko Haram and the Islamic State West Africa Province.
According to him, all suspects processed at the facility undergo detailed investigations, legal scrutiny, and classification into specific categories based on the outcome of findings.
“After investigation, a complex casework group reviews all reports and provides legal advice. Based on the outcome, detainees are categorised into three groups: prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration,” he said.
He added that more than 500 suspects had recently been transferred for trial, noting that many of them had already been convicted, a development he attributed to improved synergy between security agencies and the justice system.
The brigadier-general further disclosed that the centre operates as a multi-agency platform involving the Nigerian Army, Defence Intelligence Agency, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and the Nigeria Immigration Service.
He said legal experts from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation also participate in the process to ensure compliance with established legal standards.
Audu noted that suspects are received alongside preliminary investigation reports from operational units, after which they are formally documented and assigned to investigators drawn from the various participating agencies.
He added that detainees are kept in segregated facilities, with special provisions for women and children.
“Minors in custody, particularly those staying with their mothers, are provided with basic education and welfare support within the centre,” he said.
The military has, in recent years, intensified efforts to streamline the handling of terrorism suspects amid ongoing operations against insurgent groups in the North-East.
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