The Nigerian Army on Wednesday freed 128 suspected Boko
Haram members arrested in different locations of Borno State.
Speaking during the release of the 128 persons to the Borno
State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, the Chief of Army Staff,
Lt. General Tukur Buaratai, said the detainees have been
carefully screened by a joint intelligence cell, which includes the
Nigerian Army, Police, DSS and representative of Borno State
government.
He said the Nigerian Army has three major tasks in the
fulfilment of its role in the counter insurgency war in the North-
East. These, it said, include facilitating humanitarian support to
all agencies involved in humanitarian activities, defeat of the
insurgents and the restoration of administrative function of all
the areas liberated.
He said, “To attest to the fact that the Nigerian Army is a right
body, we preserve human rights in the course of our duty and
also maintain dignity of the individuals. The human right has
vindicated the Nigerian Army, as we protect the territorial
integrity of the country and defend its citizens.”
Gen. Buratai said the President was giving them more support
by supplying them with more equipment and more troops
deployed to various parts of the North-East, so as to end the
insurgency within the stipulated time given by President
Muhammadu Buhari.
While addressing the 128 freed Boko Haram suspects, Governor
Kashim Shettima warned them to desist from engaging in
unlawful activities He urged them to embark on legitimate
business to sustain their livelihood and be fully integrated into
the society as good citizens of the country.
He said, “Through the magnanimity and professionalism of the
Nigerian Army, you have been released and will be fully
integrated into the society. You should abstain yourselves from
criminal activities, as the government is ready to empower you
so that you will be good citizens that can bring development to
the society.”
Also, the Nigerian Army on Wednesday in Damaturu, the capital
of the troubled Yobe State, paraded 16 suspected Boko Haram
members and their alleged collaborators.
Parading the suspects at the military base of the 27th Military
Taskforce Brigade in Damaturu, the Acting Commander of the
taskforce, Colonel Dahiru Bako said the suspects were arrested
from different locations across the state.
Bako said some of the Boko Haram suspects were arrested
shortly after carrying out an operation at the outskirts of
Damaturu, where two villagers were killed. He said others were
nabbed as collaborators and informants of the insurgents.
The collaborators, he said, were involved in the supply of
logistics, such as foodstuff, fuel and cigarettes, among other
intoxicants.
Items recovered from the suspects and their collaborators
include 16 jerry cans of 25-litre Premium Motor Spirit (petrol),
eight jerry cans of cooking oil, two bags of cannabis, among
large quantities of assorted drugs.
Others things included 10 bags of rice, two bags of sugar, 12
bags of millet and six bags of potash as well as 12 bags of
fertilizers which were believed to be used in the production of
Improvised Explosive Devices.
Speaking to journalists, one of the released detainees, a 62-
year-old Musa Ayuba, said he was excited as he would be
finally going to be re-integrated with his family members.
According to him, he has been in detention for almost two years.
He thanked the Army and the government for making them to
regain their freedom. He promised to go back to their village to
carry on with his farming activities.
The Nigerian Army had in July 2015 released 182 persons
cleared of any link with the insurgency group.
Meanwhile, the Acting Director, Defence Information, Col. Rabe
Abubakar, has assured Nigerians that the Boko Haram
insurgents lacked the capacity to retake towns under the control
of the military.
