BOKO HARAM AMNESTY... Women, Children Detainees to be Released First, Says FG

BOKO HARAM AMNESTY... Women, Children Detainees to be Released First, Says FG

As reactions pour in on the federal government’s detainee release programme for select members of the Boko Haram sect, as well as women and children associated with the Islamist terrorist group, the presidency yesterday threw more light on the plan, stating that the first phase of the plan would cover women and children only.

The clarification was made by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, who said the release of the terror suspects would be based on individual merit.

But Christians from the north under the auspices of the 19 Northern States Christian Forum have condemned the initiative, warning that not only will it put the lives of security operatives

in danger serving in the region, it would reverse the peace process in northern Nigeria.

Borno State Governor Kashim Shettima, however, commended the federal government’s decision to release some suspected members of Boko Haram, stating that with the measure, the resolution of the crisis had been fast tracked.

A statement signed by Okupe clarifying the release of the terror suspects said: “It has become necessary to make further clarifications on the directive for the release of some people held in connection with activities of the Boko Haram sect, in view of misrepresentations in some sections of the media.

“The order for the release of the detainees will be in phases. Concerning the first batch, the emphasis is on women and children who have been in detention on suspicion of involvement and/or connection with insurgency in some parts of the country.

“This will be followed by other phased releases where cases will be treated on their individual merit by the Defence authorities and security agencies.

“The presidential directive was as a result of the interim report by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peace in Northern Nigeria which recommended the measure as part of government’s multi-faceted strategy to solving the security challenges posed by the activities of the sect.

“This directive by Mr. President further proves that the federal government has not foreclosed dialogue as a viable option in its bid to put an end to insurgency and terrorist activities in the northern part of the country.

“It is expected that this phased release of detainees will encourage those who wish to embrace the peace option to come out and take advantage of the dialogue and peace option provided by the committee put in place by government.”

Providing further clarification on the federal government’s decision, the Minister of Special Duties and Chairman, Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North, Alhaji Kabiru Turaki, yesterday added that the committee prevailed on the federal government to release women and children in detention, as part of efforts to bring the Boko Haram sect to the negotiating table.

Thisday Newspaper