The Borno State government on Wednesday announced the release of 160,000 repentant Boko Haram insurgents.
The government justified the action, saying they can’t return to killings because they swore to an oath with the Quran.
The Borno Government also revealed it had cleared 500 suspects of involvement in terrorism and had them released from the Nigerian Army detention facility at Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri.
Borno State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Zuwaira Gambo, made this known in Maiduguri while responding to a leader of some aggrieved women in Borno, Hajiya Gana, who said that some of their innocent men and children were being held at the barracks.
During a question and answer session at a Public Presentation of Charters of Demand from Survivors, Victims and De-radicalised Women in Borno, organised by an indigenous NGO, Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, Mrs Gambo said all those released in batches were handed over to the Borno State Government.
“The latest batch released last week were 28 in number,” she said.
The Commisioner assured those whose relations were arrested by the military in connection with the insurgents to entertain no fear as long as their relations were innocent.
According to Mrs Gambo, the state government is working closely with the military to make sure all suspects are given justice and fairness
Mrs Gambo praised the foundation for being at the forefront of seeking justice for the vulnerable and promoting peace and reconciliation in the state.
She promised that the state government would look into the charter of demand from the survivors and victims of the insurgency.
She added that many of the demands were being addressed under the “Borno Model” as a result of the mass surrender of insurgents and their families.
