Human rights lawyer and activist Deji Adeyanju has praised the Federal Government and the Department of State Services (DSS) for commencing the prosecution of terrorism suspects, describing the move as a positive step towards strengthening the rule of law and protecting constitutional rights.
In a statement issued on Friday, Adeyanju said taking terrorism suspects before courts of competent jurisdiction demonstrates respect for due process and fundamental human rights.
While commending the development, he expressed concern over the continued detention of more than 20,000 terrorism suspects across various facilities in Nigeria without trial.
According to him, many of the detainees have remained in custody for years, with some allegedly spending over 15 years behind bars without being formally charged, a situation he said violates the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution and international human rights standards.
Adeyanju urged the Federal Government to speed up the administration of justice by ensuring that all terrorism suspects are either promptly prosecuted or released where there is insufficient evidence to sustain criminal charges.
He also called for the immediate closure of the detention facility at Wawa Barracks in Niger State, alleging that inmates regularly die due to starvation, poor detention conditions and inadequate medical care.
Describing Wawa Barracks as one of the worst detention facilities in Africa, the activist appealed to the government to implement urgent reforms aimed at improving detention conditions and safeguarding the rights of detainees.
“The decision to prosecute terrorism suspects is commendable and demonstrates respect for constitutional provisions,” Adeyanju said.
“However, over 20,000 other suspects are still languishing in detention camps across Nigeria. Some have remained in custody for more than 15 years without trial, in clear violation of the Constitution and human rights laws.
“The government should also close the Wawa Barracks detention facility, where suspects allegedly die regularly due to starvation, poor detention conditions and inadequate medical care.”
Adeyanju maintained that while combating terrorism remains a national priority, the fight must be conducted within the framework of the law, stressing that adherence to due process and respect for the rights of suspects would strengthen public confidence in Nigeria’s justice system.