The Nigerian Army on Wednesday 9, today, handed over four foreigners and 124 Nigerians detained in connection with membership of the Boko Haram terrorist group to Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State.
According to a press statement from the Borno state government which was made available to us, the chief of Army staff Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai said the 128 persons comprising 109 men, 7 women, 11 under aged and one child were found innocent after thorough investigations jointly carried out by intelligence officers of the Army, police, Department of State Security and representatives of the Borno State Government.
Three Chadians and one Cameroonian were amongst the 128 freed detainees. All detainees were arrested at different points during military activities on suspicion of having dealings with the Boko Haram insurgents.
Receiving the freed suspects, Governor Kashim commended the Nigerian Army and other security agents operating in the state for respecting human rights and doing a thorough job in screening the detainees who were found innocent.
He particularly commended the Chief of Army staff for his determination to not only and insurgents in the North East but his effort to repositioning the Nigerian Army.
Governor Kashim charged the freed detainees not to fail the Nigerian Army and the State Government by getting involved in any illegal act especially given the fact that some of them might have come in contact with insurgents at some points of detention. He emphasized that they should rather pray for peace to return to the state and the country as a whole.
He further informed them that a special team was expected to arrive Maiduguri the from the office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) to President Mohammadu Buhari which will interact and train the freed suspects on vocational skills in different fields desired by them after which, he explained, the freed suspects will be empowered with start up tool so that they be self employed to enable them fully reintegrate into their respective communities.
Speaking before handing the freed suspected Boko Haram, Chief of Army staff, Lt. General Tukur Yusuf Buratai said the NA in fulfillment of responsibility through its operation alongside other security agents and human right commission had found the suspected Boko Haram innocent and deemed it necessary to hand them over to the Borno State Government.
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