The Nigerian military yesterday released 593 detainees after they had been cleared of any association with the Boko Haram terrorists.
The Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, Maj.-Gen. Lucky Irabor handed over the detainees to officials of the Borno State government at a ceremony in Maiduguri.
Irabor, represented by Brig.-Gen. Abdulrahman Kuluya said that the release was based on the directives of the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai.
He said the military has made several efforts in ensuring that peace return to the North East by conducting different operations.
Irabor said that some suspects were arrested in the course of the operations in the North East.
“The Chief of Army Staff has always made it clear in different fora that all persons arrested in the course of the anti insurgency war in the North East will not stay a minute more than necessary. Persons either arrested by the military or arrested and brought to the military by another person will not be allowed to stay more than necessary,” he said.
Irabor pointed out that the detainees were released after they had been cleared by the joint investigation team of the military.
He said that they were handed to the state government for psychosocial support before the final reintegration back to the society.
Receiving the detainees Mrs Ladi Musa, the welfare officer at the Bulumkutu rehabilitation center thanked the military for the gesture.
Musa said that the state government had already provided enough facilities at the centre for the rehabilitation of the detainees.