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Police plan swift trial of Nigerian massacre suspects

24 March 2010 03:35 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. Police in Nigeria’s central city of Jos are planning for a speedy trial of 207 suspects arrested over recent large scale slaughter of Christian villagers, a spokesman said, APA reports quoting AFP.
Plateau State police spokesman Mohammed Lerama told AFP on phone from Jos that arrangements were under way "to enable us begin the prosecution of about 200 suspects".
"We hope to go to court this week," he said.
Lerama said a total of 207 suspects were picked up following the butchering of hundreds of villagers -- mainly women and children -- near Jos in two incidents this month.
"Forty-nine Fulani herdsmen arrested following the March 7 attack will be charged with homicide and terrorism," he said, adding that an additional seven Fulani would face similar charges over a second bout of killings on March 17.
A group of 151 ethnic and mainly Christian Beroms would face charges of illegal possession of firearms, disturbance of public peace, unlawful assembly and destruction of property, he said.
Federal police on Sunday said 164 people had been arrested over the massacre with 49 of them to be charged with terrorism and arson while 121 face multiple offences of unlawful possession of firearms, rioting, arson and causing grievous hurt.
Police say more than 100 people were killed with machetes, while government officials insist more than 500 were massacred by the nomadic Fulani.
Police also said 213 suspects have already been charged with various offences connected to the violence in January, when mostly Muslims were killed, and were being held in various prisons across the country.