The Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar on Tuesday said that members of the Boko Haram sect currently in detention would not go on trial until the anti-terrorism bill is passed into law by the National Assembly.
The police boss has ordered AIGs and police Commissioners to intensify effort towards securing religious centres across the country especially in the volatile North-West and North-East regions as the festive period approaches.
He further admonished that attacks on churches and religious places will not be tolerated.
On why suspects of the sect were put in detention without trial, the IG said: “We cannot arraign them before any court until the anti-terrorism bill is passed.
“We want it passed because it will reduce the cases that have been pending and the number of detainees for terrorism crimes that we have.”
He noted that passage of the bill will facilitate prosecution of Boko Haram suspects.
He said: “It is a fact that we have improved security in many states of the federation. But states in the North-East, comprising Yobe, Borno, Bauchi and Adamawa, have serious security challenges.
“The states in the North-West, such as Zamfara, Kaduna and recently, Taraba, are giving us problems. All CPs are putting in their best.”
Abubakar added that any command that fails to abide by this would be sanctioned.
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