Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has commended the Federal Government and the Department of State Services (DSS) for commencing the prosecution of terrorism suspects in court.

Adeyanju described the move as a significant step towards upholding the rule of law and constitutional safeguards.

However, he expressed concern about the continued detention of more than 20,000 terrorism suspects in various facilities across the country without trial, urging the government to accelerate the administration of justice.

In a statement on Friday, the activist said the decision to arraign terrorism suspects before courts of competent jurisdiction reflects compliance with the Constitution and respect for fundamental human rights.

He noted that while the ongoing prosecutions deserve commendation, thousands of other suspects have remained in detention for years without being charged.

According to him, some of the detainees have spent more than 15 years in custody, a situation he said violates both the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights standards. 

Adeyanju called on the Federal Government to ensure that all terrorism suspects are either promptly prosecuted or released where there is insufficient evidence to sustain criminal charges.

He also urged the authorities to shut down the detention facility at Wawa Barracks in Niger State, alleging that inmates there regularly die from starvation, inadequate medical care and poor detention conditions.

Describing the facility as one of the worst detention centres on the African continent, Adeyanju called for urgent reforms in the treatment of detainees and improvements in detention conditions across the country.

“The decision to prosecute terrorism suspects is commendable and demonstrates respect for constitutional provisions,” he said.

“However, over 20,000 other suspects are still languishing in detention camps across Nigeria. Some have remained in custody for more than 15 years without trial, in clear violation of the Constitution and human rights laws. 

“The government should also close the Wawa Barracks detention facility, where suspects allegedly die regularly due to starvation, poor detention conditions and inadequate medical care,” Adeyanju added.

He stressed that the fight against terrorism must be pursued within the bounds of the law, insisting that respect for due process and the rights of suspects would strengthen public confidence in the nation’s justice system.

Source: The Nation News