by Rachel Ogbu

The screening of all suspected terrorist in the custody of the Joint Task Force in Maiduguri would soon take place, the Defence Headquarter announced on Thursday.

Deputy Director, Civil-Military Relations at the Defence Headquarters Abuja, Air Commodore Ademola Ojikutu, announced the development at a town hall meeting with religious and political leaders in Maiduguri stating that the screening was necessary to determine the level of the suspects’ complicity in the charges against them.

“Subject to the approval of the Chief of Defence Staff a panel of experts will be assembled to screen all those in detention.

“Those who are found to be clean will be released while those found wanting will be prosecuted in courts of law.’’

“We are going to require the assistance of the political authorities toward trying the suspects in law courts,’’ Onitiju said.

He added, “Our major role is to safeguard the country against external aggression.

“But the civil authority invited us to intervene after the police capabilities had been overstretched.’’

According to Onitiju, the town hall meeting was intended at acquire feedbacks from the people on the actions and proceedures of the state’s JTF mission.