Insurgency: Borno govt cleared, released 500 suspects, says Commissioner

 

The Borno government says it has cleared 500 suspects of involvement in terrorism and released from the Army detention facility at Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, made this in Maiduguri while responding to a leader of some aggrieved women in Borno, Hajja Gana, who alleged that some of their innocent men and children were being held at the barracks.

Gambo, who was speaking during a question-and-answer session at a public presentation of charters of demand from survivors, victims, and deradicalized women in Borno, organised by an indigenous NGO,  Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, said all those released in batches were handed over to Borno government. 

“The latest batch released last week was 28 in number,” Gambo said.

She assured those whose relatives were arrested by the military in connection with the insurgency to entertain no fear as long as such relations were innocent. 

Gambo said that the state government is working closely with the military to ensure justice and fairness for all suspects. 

The commissioner lauded the foundation for being at the forefront of seeking justice for the vulnerable and promoting peace and reconciliation in the state.

She said the government would look into the charter of demands from the survivors and victims of the insurgency, adding that many of the demands were being addressed under the “Borno Model” following the mass surrender of insurgents and their families. 

The commissioner said that the Borno Model was a community-based approach involving all stakeholders.

Also speaking on innocent persons in detention, the Executive Director of Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, lauded the Army for providing periodical access to the foundation to visit those in detention at Giwa barracks. 

Allamin also noted the periodical release of those identified as innocent and urged the military to sustain the tempo to ensure that no innocent member of society suffers for a crime he or she did not commit. 

The highlight of the occasion is the presentation and review of the charter of demand by Prof. Abubakar Mu’azu, the Director, Centre for Peace, Development, and Diplomatic Studies, University of Maiduguri. (NAN)