Defence facility assesses 1,450 alleged extremists, refers 500 for prosecution

The Joint Investigation Centre at Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri, has concluded investigations into 1,450 suspected terrorists, with over 500 suspects having been screened for prosecution, according to authorities at the facility.

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Commander of the centre, Brig.-Gen. Yusuf Audu, who was represented by Capt. Puole Obinwal, revealed this information during a comprehensive briefing in Maiduguri on Wednesday.

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The centre was established as a unified interrogation and screening facility for suspects arrested during counter-insurgency operations, playing a critical role in Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists.

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Suspects processed through the centre undergo a structured investigation, legal review, and categorisation into prosecution, rehabilitation, or reintegration pathways, depending on the findings of their case.

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A complex casework group reviews all reports and provides legal advice after an investigation, resulting in detainees being categorised into three groups: prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

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Recently, the centre moved over 500 suspects for trial, with most of them being convicted, reflecting the effectiveness of coordinated investigations and inter-agency prosecution processes.

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The centre operates as a multi-agency platform, comprising personnel from the Nigerian Army, Defence Intelligence Agency, and the Nigeria Police Force, among other agencies.

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Other agencies at the centre include the Department of State Services, Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, and Nigeria Immigration Service, alongside legal experts from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.

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This multi-agency model ensures a holistic approach to terrorism-related investigations and strengthens the legal integrity of prosecution processes.

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The facility maintains strict custody and documentation procedures, where suspects are received with preliminary investigation reports, assigned case files, and investigated by designated officers drawn from different security agencies.

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Detainees are housed in segregated cells, with special provisions for women and children, while minors accompanying mothers are provided with basic education and care within the facility.

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The centre maintains high hygiene standards and provides medical services for inmates, including isolation and treatment for tuberculosis patients in collaboration with humanitarian partners.

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Detainees are provided with structured feeding, three meals daily, supported by water supply systems, including a 40,000-litre solar-powered borehole constructed with support from the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

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Detainees are issued clothing, toiletries, and hygiene kits on arrival, while periodic fumigation of cells is carried out to maintain sanitary conditions.

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The facility also provides physical and psychological support programmes, including access to sports, indoor games, and limited outdoor exercise to maintain mental well-being.

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Detainees are allowed to communicate with family members through a “Restoration of Family Links” programme facilitated with international partners, including the ICRC.

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Investigations are conducted under the Terrorism Prevention Act (2011, 2013 amended, and 2022 provisions), with human rights safeguards and judicial oversight through Federal High Court remand orders.

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The centre has recorded significant progress in handling terrorism cases, with biometric data of all suspects captured to maintain a national database for security tracking and intelligence purposes.

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The commander highlighted collaboration with international partners such as the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UNICEF, and other humanitarian organisations, which have supported infrastructure development, capacity building, and detainee welfare programmes.

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UNODC constructed an evidence storage facility, while IOM developed a data management system that improves screening and categorisation of suspects, and UNICEF has supported the centre with educational materials for juveniles.

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The ICRC continues to assist in healthcare delivery and detainee welfare interventions, and detainees are engaged in skill acquisition programmes such as tailoring, farming, poultry, fish farming, cap making, and bakery operations.

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A bakery project was recently established within the facility to reduce operational costs and provide vocational training, with the goal of keeping detainees engaged productively while awaiting investigation outcomes.

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Officers deployed to the centre are carefully selected based on their professional background, including psychology, criminology, and sociology, to enhance investigative effectiveness.

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The centre’s approach aligns with global counter-terrorism best practices, particularly the United Nations principle that “effective counter-terrorism measures and protection of human rights are mutually reinforcing,” and has received commendation from national and international dignitaries.