President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Department of
State Services (DSS) have received commendation for the arrest and arraignment
of nine suspects linked to recent violent attacks in Benue and Plateau states.
Prominent Abuja-based human rights lawyer, Deji
Adeyanju, lauded the development in a Facebook post on Thursday, describing it
as proof of the administration’s seriousness in tackling terrorism and violent
crime.
“I wish to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the
Director-General of the DSS for the arraignment of nine prime suspects linked
to the tragic killings in Benue and Plateau states. This is a welcome step that
gives hope to the affected communities that justice will be done and that the
lost lives will not be forgotten,” Adeyanju wrote.
He, however, called for wider reforms in the justice
system to ensure the protection of Nigerians from daily banditry, while also
urging security agencies to end prolonged detentions without trial. “Citizens
cannot continue to spend years in custody without charge… justice delayed in
this way affects both the innocent and the justice system itself,” he stressed.
The DSS, on Wednesday, arraigned the nine suspects
before a Federal High Court in Abuja on separate charges ranging from unlawful
possession of firearms to aiding terrorism. The defendants include Terkende
Ashuwa (46), Amos Alede (44), Haruna Adamu (26), Muhammed Abdullahi (48),
Halima Haliru Usman (32), Timna Manjo (46), Nanbol Tali (75), Danjuma Antu
(62), and Silas Iduh Oloche.
Out of the group, only Timna Manjo pleaded guilty to
two of the four counts filed against him alongside Tali. The cases are expected
to continue in the coming weeks as prosecutors push for justice over the
killings that have devastated communities in the two states.
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