The Nigerian military will release 313 individuals who are believed to be associated with the Boko Haram Islamist insurgency, since a court has determined that there is insufficient evidence to prove their involvement in any criminal activities, defense spokesperson Major General Edward Buba reportedly said on Thursday.
"The court ordered their release for want of evidence after the conclusion of investigations and other ancillary matters," Buba said, as cited by the media.
The Department of Prosecution, a division of the Federal Ministry of Justice, handled the prosecution of the charges. The individuals involved will be transferred to the Borno State Government for further proceedings, he reportedly added.
The most recent crime committed by Boko Haram was the kidnapping of 232 students and teachers, in Kaduna State on March 13. The terrorists demanded a 1 billion naira (more than $680,700) ransom. All those abducted were freed last week thanks to the efforts of the Nigerian military.
However, April will mark the anniversary of their much older crime — the abduction of the Chibok girls — the event that first brought Boko Haram crimes to global attention almost ten years ago. As of April last year, 96 girls remain in captivity, according to the UN.
* A terrorist organization banned in Russia and many other states.