Arrested Boko Haram members will not face prosecution

OVER 100 members of the Boko Haram sect arrested by the State Security Service (SSS) will not face prosecution, but will be won over by the government, to make them denounce the group and give details

of the workings of the sect to government.

Assistant Director, Public Affairs of the service, Marilyn Ogar, who made the disclosure at a press briefing at the service headquarters, on Monday, disclosed that the men, made up of key cell commanders,  as well as rank and file members of the group, were apprehended in six northern states of Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Yobe, Borno and Adamawa.

Ogar, at the briefing, also disclosed that the service, through information provided to it by patriotic Nigerians, had succeeded in demobilising about 12 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), popularly called home made bombs, in Kaduna State between May 23 and June 27.

Explaining why those arrested would not face prosecution, she said the decision was in line with the “carrot and stick” policy adopted by President Goodluck Jonathan in dealing with the Islamic group.

Detailing the success recorded by the service, Ogar said “on May 23, security operatives discovered and successfully demobilised eight IEDs concealed in small and medium size tins beneath a staircase in Kafanchan, Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

“On May 29, an IED planted at the Post Office area of Gonin Gora, Chikun Local Government Area of Kaduna State was discovered and successfully demobilised.

“On June 10, an IED concealed in a sack placed under a kerosene tank on Engineer L.D. Abubakar road, off Kaduna-Abuja Expressway, by Central Market, Gonin Gora, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State, was also discovered and demobilised.

“Information from patrotic citizens, on June 14, led to the discovery of an IED wired with nine volt battery, concealed under the railway track behind Dambo International College, Barnawa, Kaduna South Local Government Area. It was also demo-bilised.

“Also, on June 27, information received from patriotic members of the public assisted in the recovery of some components of yet-to-be assembled explosives. The items include a camping gas cylinder with a pin, detonating cables, a bottle of distilled water, plier, masking tape and clips.

“These were found in a hotel, and were meant to be used to bomb a shopping mall in Kaduna.”

Speaking further on the arrested members of Boko Haram, Ogar said their details would remain classified, “as they are still undergoing the process of de-radicalisation and perception management,” as the government was also trying to win their confidence back to the society.

She, however, said those caught, when eventually released, would be made to face the full wrath of the law if they were caught engaging in anti-social activities again.