Nigerian court releases nearly 500 Boko Haram suspects

Nearly 500 Boko Haram suspects have been released by a Nigerian court citing a lack of evidence, with some detainees held for years without charge. A Justice Ministry statement yesterday said the 475 suspects will be returned to their home states for proper rehabilitation before being sent back to their families.

Those detained were arrested on suspicion they belonged to Boko Haram or had concealed information about



the group's plans or fighters' whereabouts. However, the Prosecution Counsel could not charge them with any offence due to lack of sufficient evidence against them. 

Therefore, the suspects were released, the statement said. The court proceedings in the town of Kainji, in central Niger state, was part of the second phase of an unprecedented mass trial of more than 1,600 suspects.