Benin: 700 people in prison for terrorism

In Benin, 700 people, including expats, are currently held in detention on terrorism charges, head of Benin’s Court of Economic Crimes and Terrorism Repression (CRIET) revealed, as the country strives to combat terrorism in the north.

Cyriaque Dossa, head of the Court, said, during a conference held in Benin’s top university of Abomey-Calavi, that the Constitution of the West African country requires “life imprisonment for people charged with terrorism.”

Any person informed of a terror plan or attack and who fails to inform authorities also faces 8 to 10 years in prison. The alleged terrorists hail from Benin, Nigeria, Niger and Burkina Faso, Cyriaque Dossa indicated, adding that they are yet to appear in court for judgement.

Benin since November 2021 has been grappling with dozens of terror attacks. The army has lost 22 soldiers and 42 reported wounded according Chief of Staff Abou Issa. At least 52 alleged terrorists have been killed while 72 have been arrested.