Boko Haram: 90 women, children to regain freedom

No fewer than 90 women and children being held in connection with activities of the Boko Haram sect are to benefit from the first phase of the presidential directive on release.

A top Defence source, who disclosed this to one of our correspondents, said that the military had compiled names of those that would regain freedom.

He said, “I can say that between 90 and 100 women and children would benefit from the first phase of the exercise.

“We are not keen on detaining anybody and we cannot disobey the order of the commander-in-chief. Whenever we get the order to release any detainee, we will do so.”

The source said the decision of the government was designed to send a signal to Boko Haram that the Federal Government had not foreclosed the option of amnesty as a solution to the insurgency.

He stressed that with the decision to set free the women and children, the government expected the sect to accept the offer of dialogue, adding that more detainees would be released from time to time based on the outcome of the negotiations between the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation and the insurgents.

The source stated, “Others will be released later but I think everything depends on the outcome of the negotiations between the Amnesty Committee and the militants.

“You know, this thing is political, so it is difficult to put a number to all the people that would benefit from the exercise.”

President Goodluck Jonathan had on Tuesday directed the Defence Headquarters to release some terror suspects from detention, especially the women and children.

The Director of Defence Information, Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in an electronic mail that the directive followed a request by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation for their release.

Olukolade had stated, “Consequent upon the directive of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Defence Headquarters will be releasing from detention a number of persons being held in connection with terrorist activities.

“The move is in furtherance of the Federal Government position in response to requests by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation.

“The measure which is in line with presidential magnanimity to enhance peace efforts in the country will result in freedom for suspects including all women under custody.”

Meanwhile, Amnesty International has urged the Federal Government not to use the state of emergency in the North-East  zone as an excuse to commit human rights violations.

The international organisation, in a statement on Thursday by its Deputy Director for Africa, Lucky Freeman, said many people had been killed and arrested since the state of emergency was declared.

It said, “President Goodluck Jonathan must order the military to respect human rights and the rule of law; the military is not above the law.

“The government has an obligation to ensure the safety of all Nigerians, firstly by addressing the attacks from Boko Haram, but also by eliminating the human rights violations carried out by the very state security forces who are supposed to provide protection.

“Several people have reportedly been killed and hundreds arrested since a state of emergency was declared in the northern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe on  May 14. The military reportedly claim those targeted are suspected members of Boko Haram.”



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