The Borno state government on Thursday received 42 suspected Boko Haram terrorists captured by the Nigerian army.
The military said the 42, after months and years in detention, were cleared of all suspicions following thorough investigations.
The military said three of the 42 released suspects were foreigners from Chad, Cameroon and Burkina Faso.
The
deputy director, Defence Information, Sani Usman, a colonel, who handed
the freed suspects over to Governor Kashim Shettima said they were
arrested during various military raids.
Mr. Usman said each of the freed prisoners were given N100,000 to enable them continue with their normal lives as free citizens.
“We
in the Nigeria army will continue to do our best in the ongoing fight
against insurgency until we get rid of this problem,” he said.
Mr. Shetima commended the military for its magnanimity.
“We
commend the fairness, equity and justice displayed by the Nigeria Armed
Forces towards releasing anybody found not to be involved in these
terrorist activities,” he said.
“Amongst them are students,
tailors, mechanics, provision stores owners and of course, quite a
handful of them are drivers. We have a moral obligation to ensure that
these young men at this time of their lives are actively engaged. Along
this line, I wish to direct the road maintenance agency to include those
that are drivers as employed truck drivers, while those that are
tailors should be engaged in sewing uniforms for students and pupils in
line with our education transformation program.
“Those that are
farmers should be given the resources to improve their farming; while
the traders would be given some token in addition to what the military
gave them to boost their trade. The students among them should be
assisted to return to school.”
Some of the freed prisoners had spent
detention times ranging from three years, two years to some months. They
were full of gratitude to get what one of them, a 300-level student of
Chemistry, said was another chance at life.
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