FG frees 249 suspected Boko Haram detainees

A total of 249 suspect­ed Boko Haram ter­rorists held in differ­ent detention camps across the country have been freed by military authorities in Maiduguri.
The released persons comprised 169 males, 46 females and 34 children from six states of the fed-eration and the republic of Cameroon.
Further breakdown indi­cates that 203 persons are from Borno state, 34 from Yobe, 1 each from Lagos and Yobe, and 2 each from Adamawa, Jigawa and the Republic of Cameroon.
A statement by Army spokesman, Col Sani Us­man, said that the released persons who have been cleared by a Joint Inter­rogation Committee were handed over to the Borno Stae Government by the Acting General Officer Commanding, 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Brig Gen Victor Ezugwu in a brief ceremony yesterday.

Col Usman however said that the two foreigners were handed over to the Borno State Command of the Ni­gerian Immigration Service for onward transmission to the Cameroonian authori­ties.
While receiving the re­leased persons on behalf of the Boorno State Govern­ment, the Commis-sioner for Local Government ad­vised them to be law abid­ing and go about their nor­mal business-es.
He said that the Com­missioner commended the military for their dogged­ness in the fight against insurgency and respect for human rights as typified by the handing over ceremony.
The statement reads in part: “Today a total of 249 cleared suspected Boko Haram terrorists and ac­complices were released by the Joint Interrogation as approved by the Chief of Army Staff in Maiduguri.”
“Those cleared and re­leased include 169 males, 46 females and 34 children. Further breakdown shows that 203 of them were from 18 Local Government Ar­eas of Borno State, while 44 were from other states as follows; Adamawa 2, Jigawa 2, Lagos 1, Oyo 1 and Yobe 38. However, 2 of them were from the Republic of Cameroon.”
He said that the released persons were handed over to the Borno State Govern­ment through the Commis­sioner for Local Govern­ment by the Acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Brig Gen Victor Ezegwu, while the two for­eigners were handed over to the Borno State Com-mand of the Nigeria Immi­gration Service.
“In his remarks, the Commissioner advised the released detainees to re­main loyal and law abiding and go about their lawful businesses.”
“He also commended the effort of the military in the fight against terrorism and insurgency and respect for human rights as manifested in the painstaking efforts that led to their clearance and subsequent release.”
The statement added that a token of N3,000 was giv­en to each of the released detainees.