NIGERIA- The Defence Headquarters has recommended 500 suspects for trial in respect of terrorist operations in the troubled North-Western States of Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

In a statement signed by the Director of Defence Information, Brig-Gen. Chris Olukolade in Abuja, the Defence Headquarters also asked the authorities to release 167 others from detention.

It was revealed that some of those on the trial list include high profile suspects who had been trained in weapon handling.

Among the suspects for trial are a Medical Doctor and paramilitary or service personnel who had been fighting on the side of the terrorists.

While some of the suspects might face trial in the states where they committed terror-related activities, others may be arraigned before Federal High Court.

The statement said: “The Joint Investigation Team set up by the Defence Headquarters has recommended immediate trial of over 500 persons apprehended in the course of security operations against terrorists in Yobe, Borno and Adamawa States.

“The suspects are among the almost 1,400 detainees screened by the team at the detention facilities in Maiduguri, Yola and Damaturu between July and September.

“Those recommended for immediate trial include high profile suspects some of whom were training other terrorists in weapon handling as well as those who confessed to being trained in Mali and other countries for the purpose of perpetrating terror in Nigeria.

“Also among those recommended for trial are a Medical Doctor, paramilitary or service personnel who were fighting on the side of the terrorists and other individuals who offered direct logistics support to the terrorists.

“The team however recommended the release of 167 of the detainees from detention in Maiduguri, Yola and Damaturu. About 614 others whose cases were inconclusive have been recommended for review.

” The report also proposed that some of the detainees be tried for other offences ranging from armed robbery, murder to drugs related offences.

“If the recommendations of the team sail through, the trial of some of the suspects will be held in the states while others may be tried at the Federal level by High Courts.

“Receiving the reports at the Defence Headquarters, the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Ola Sa’ad Ibrahim commended the team for being thorough in conducting the assignment.

“He assured them that the recommendations will be treated with dispatch after due consultations with appropriate authorities.

“He said that the military authorities would continue to ensure that due process and highest professional standards were followed in managing the security operations in the states covered by the State of Emergency, adding that DHQ was committed to necessary steps that would ensure justice and fair play.”