Army Frees 128 Suspected Boko Haram Members To Gov. Shettima Of Borno State

The headquarters of the Nigerian Army on Wednesday 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.
The handing ceremony which took place at the Maimalari
Contentment Maiduguri was performed by the chief of Army staff
Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai on Wednesday.
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.
General Tukur
Buratai informed the gathering that the task before the NA was to among
other things, defeat insurgents, restore peace in the state from local
government to the state level and create an enabling environment for
administrative stability.
He further said NA will do everything
possible to maintain professionalism and respect the right of
individual, hoping that the continued support and cooperation from the
people of the state which is highly appreciated will be sustains.

High point of the occasion was presentation of clothing materials and
undisclosed amount of money to the freed detainees by Governor Shettima
who was assisted by his host, the Army chief. Shettima said the gift was
a token pending training and empowerment of the freed suspects.