Army frees 42 Boko Haram suspects in Maiduguri

 Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade 

Forty two Boko Haram suspects were yesterday freed by the army authorities of 7 Division Army  in Maiduguri and handed over to Governor Kashim Shettima.

The army also gave each of the freed suspect N100,000 to resettle themselves.

Three of the released suspects are Chad, Burkina Faso and Cameroon nationals. They will be repatriated immediately by the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) to their countries.

Presenting the  freed suspects yesterday at the Government House in Maiduguri, the Deputy Director Army Public Relations Officer, Col. Sani  Usman, said the suspects were arrested but have been found to have nothing to do with Boko Haram.

He said: “Out of the 42 cleared suspects by the military this month, three are from the neighboring countries of Burkina Faso, Chad and Cameroon.”

Col. Usman urged residents to keep giving information on how to end insurgency.

The Nation gathered  that the released suspects include students, traders, carpenters, drivers and panel beaters as well as three elderly persons. The remaining 29 fall between the ages of 18 and 30.

Shettima, receiving them, announced that some of them  would be immediately engaged in their various areas of trade.

“An idle mind, they say, is the devils workshop. Therefore, we cannot allow you people to be idle. From your introduction, some of you are drivers, others are tailors some students. All the drivers would be immediately engaged by the state government and the tailors too will be useful for our free uniform for school children.

“For the students, I am going to assist you to go back and complete your studies. Others will also be taken care of appropriately,” Shettima said.

He warned them not to take vengeance against the military for detaining them, urging them not to engage in anti-social activities.

His words: “I urge all of you here today in this chambers released to me by the military not to engage in any anti-social activities. You should always exhibit good behaviours while you go about your normal activities in your respective towns and communities in this state.”

The governor thanked the army for their commitment to the fight against the insurgency and their show of transparency by releasing the suspects.

One of the suspects, a University of Maiduguri Chemistry Department student, who spoke on behalf of the suspects  thanked Shettima for his gesture towards them.

“May God continue to bless you by having another second term in next year’s general elections. I  will complete my education with the cash donation of N100, 000 from the military and another N100, 000 from our governor, who worked round the clock for our release today before all of you in this Government House Chamber.