Secret Mass Trials in Nigeria

Since the beginning of October (2017), Nigerian courts have begun a series of mass trials of suspected Islamic terrorists, approximately 2,300 in total. All suspects are thought to be linked to the terrorist organization of Boko Haram, which has been violently operating in Nigeria for the last decade. Boko Haram, which means “no to western education”, has recently been behind a series of suicide bombings and massacres in the North of Nigeria. Additionally, as early as 2015 the organization claimed allegiance to the Islamic State (ISIS), which is an ongoing and growing threat that Nigeria is heavily struggling with. Since May 2011, 51,567 people have been killed due to Boko Haram and a further 1.9million people have been displaced. Boko Haram currently controls approximately 20% of Nigeria, in the northeast of the country and frequently terrorizes the surrounding African countries.

These secret mass trials have come under fire due to their expediency and the amount of people that are being processed. Some are concerned that many will not get a fair trial, and that the courts will not allow media to report on the hearings. A defence lawyer based in Kano suggested that “it sends the wrong signal that justice is not served or the process is compromised”, a report by The Guardian. Recently, a total of 13 individuals from Boko Haram have been put on trial and convicted, which is a devastatingly small number. Many have been detained for months and even years, now finally getting a trial among thousands of others. A former analyst on Nigeria admitted, “there are good reasons to believe that large numbers of the detainees have very little or no connection at all to the group”, which raises questions about the judicial process in the Nigerian courts.

It is hard to ignore the concerns that are being raised; on one side, Boko Haram is a heinous group that is operating in a horrible manner and should be impeded at all costs. Nevertheless, it is inherently important to uphold the rule of law, otherwise, the entire situation could backfire for Nigeria, especially in terms of combating radical Islamic terrorism. At the very least a trial is being held and one can optimistically hope that the process of law will be followed stringently. But even apart from that, the certainty that most the defendants are guilty is very slim, despite that many have still served time in prison awaiting the trail. Moreover, the number of defendants is quite troubling; one expert questioned, “have the authorities really captured a quarter of their (Boko Haram) combat strength?”. Unfortunately, the entire operation seems poorly thought out and lacking transparency. There is little that can be done as the trials have already begun and their secretive nature gave little warning. One can only hope that the appointed judges fulfill their duty.

The Nigerian Government is taking a very hard stance and it is completely understandable. In fact, the government has no sympathy for what Boko Haram has done or what they continue to do; nevertheless, it is for a valid reason, as Boko Haram is devastating the country for the last decade. Thus, it is very difficult to treat them or those that associate with them in a respectful and humane manner after the horrific practices that they have engaged in. However, it is important for the government to uphold the laws and processes that they themselves create and maintain, as the last thing the government would want is the loss of innocent lives.

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