Nigeria: Trial for 500 Islamic Extremist Suspects

[Time]

(LAGOS, Nigeria) — Nigeria's military is recommending immediate trial for 500 suspected extremist militants and the president is promising an economic boost for the northeast region confronting an Islamic uprising — both issues that address concerns expressed by the United States. The suspects include military and paramilitary personnel accused of aiding the Islamic extremist group Boko Haram that the United States last month declared a terrorist organization. Wednesday's developments come the week the U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs is in Nigeria for security meetings including officials from the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Africa Command and USAID. They come after Islamic militants scored a major success Monday in attacks on an air force base and artillery barracks just outside the northeast provincial capital Maiduguri, raising more doubts about the military's ability to put down the insurgency. Charred bodies, burned out wrecks of aircraft, military buildings, vehicles, and roads littered with shells bore testament Wednesday to the ferocity of the battle that witnesses said had the insurgents "practically walking all over the (air force) base" and brought soldiers to flee the artillery barracks. Nigerian security forces have been accused of massive human rights abuses in responding to the Islamic uprising with draconian powers under a 6-month-old state of emergency — abuses that some fear could win support for the extremists who say strict Islamic Shariah law would end the corruption endemic in Nigeria's government and society. Hundreds of detainees have died in detention — from starvation, asphyxiation in grossly overcrowded cells, from wounds from torture and in outright executions, according to Amnesty International and an Associated Press investigation of mortuary records at Maiduguri's main hospital. The United States, which gives military aid to Nigeria, has repeatedly raised the alleged abuses with Nigerian officials, including in a meeting between President Barack Obama and President Goodluck Jonathan on the sidelines of the United Nations general assembly earlier this year. On previous visits, U.S. Assistant Secretary Linda Thomas-Greenfield has called for detainees to be charged and brought to court. On

[Glory Skales Charity]

This is a compulsory trial so let's see how the whole event will pan out at the end of the day.
I'm watching them