The Joint Investigation Centre at Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri, on Wednesday said it has concluded investigations involving 1,450 suspected terrorists.

Authorities at the facility said over 500 suspects have been screened for prosecution.

Commander of the centre, Brig.-Gen. Yusuf Audu, made this known to newsmen during a comprehensive briefing in Maiduguri.

Audu, who was represented by Capt. Puole Obinwal, said the centre was established as a unified interrogation and screening facility for suspects arrested during counter-insurgency operations and has remained critical to Nigeria’s fight against Boko Haram and ISWAP terrorists.

He said suspects processed through the centre undergo structured investigation, legal review, and categorisation into prosecution, rehabilitation, or reintegration pathways, depending on case findings.

“After investigation, a complex casework group reviews all reports and provides legal advice. Based on the outcome, detainees are categorised into three groups: prosecution, rehabilitation, and reintegration.

“Recently, the centre moved over 500 suspects for trial, most of whom were convicted,” he said.

According to him, this reflects the effectiveness of coordinated investigations and inter-agency prosecution processes.

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

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.

According to him, the model ensures a holistic approach to terrorism-related investigations and strengthens the legal integrity of prosecution processes.

Audu said the facility also 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.

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

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

Audu said detainees are also 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).

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

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

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

On legal processes, he said 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.

He said the centre has recorded significant progress in handling terrorism cases, noting that biometric data of all suspects are captured to maintain a national database for security tracking and intelligence purposes.

The commander also 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.

According to him, UNODC constructed an evidence storage facility, while IOM developed a data management system that improves screening and categorisation of suspects.

He said UNICEF has also supported the centre with educational materials for juveniles, while the ICRC continues to assist in healthcare delivery and detainee welfare interventions.

Audu said detainees are engaged in skill acquisition programmes such as tailoring, farming, poultry, fish farming, cap making, and bakery operations, designed to rehabilitate and equip them with post-detention skills.

He said the bakery project recently established within the facility was introduced to reduce operational costs and provide vocational training.

“The idea is to keep detainees engaged productively while awaiting investigation outcomes,” he said.

On personnel management, he explained that officers deployed to the centre are carefully selected based on professional background, including psychology, criminology, and sociology, to enhance investigative effectiveness.

Audu also highlighted civil-military cooperation efforts and frequent visits by national and international dignitaries, including former defence ministers, service chiefs, and United Nations officials, who have commended the facility’s operations.

He said 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.”

(The PUNCH)

• The Joint Investigation Centre at Giwa Barracks concluded investigations involving 1,450 suspected terrorists. Photo Credit: NAN