Nigeria military releases 1,400 repentant Boko Haram suspects - Borno government

Nigeria military releases 1,400 repentant Boko Haram suspects - Borno government

- Borno state's commissioner for information, Babakura Jato, said about 1, 400 repentant Boko Haram suspects have been released so far by the military

- Jato said most of the released persons were mostly relatives of Boko Haram terrorists or persons found to be innocent after investigations

- The commissioner dismissed the insinuations that some released Boko Haram repentants have gone back to terrorism

About 1,400 repentant Boko Haram suspects have been released and resettled back into the society by the Nigerian military, the Borno state government has confirmed.

Babakura Jato who is the state's commissioner for information made this known on Monday, February 10.

In an apparent reaction to the concerns of some Nigerians about the danger of releasing repentant Boko Haram suspects, Jato explained that most of the released persons were not Boko Haram members.

Nigeria military releases 1,400 repentant Boko Haram suspects - Borno government
Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, Borno state governor, with the Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai. Credit: The Governor of Borno State
Source: Facebook

According to him, the released suspects were mostly relatives of Boko Haram terrorists or persons found to be innocent after investigations, Vanguard reports.

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He added that some of the released persons are also children of terrorists while some are actual Boko Haram members who have been rehabilitated.

Jato dismissed the insinuations that some released Boko Haram repentants have gone back to terrorism.

Many Nigerians on social media have voiced grave concerns regarding the release of repentant Boko Haram members back into the society, especially in the wake of the renewed attacks by the dreaded insurgents.

Very recently, specifically on Sunday, February 9, some Boko Haram insurgents killed nine people and kidnapped some travellers along the Maiduguri-Damaturu Highway.

Daily Trust reports that the insurgents were in Auno town, in Konduga local government area of the state at about 9.50 pm.

It was also gathered that the attackers destroyed and burnt 17 vehicles and goods worth millions of naira during the attacker in the area.

Ba’na Auno, one of the residents who escaped the attack said the insurgents had stopped the passengers in Auno due to closure of entrance into Maiduguri town at 6pm.

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Despite the arguments by the Borno state information commissioner and other government stakeholders, many Nigerians are against the release of the repentant Boko Haram members.

Ali Umar wrote on Facebook: "What is the probability that majority of them will not back to same crime? I think there should be capital punishment for Offender,so that when you are caught in the act you know your punishment."

"Here's the main reason why every region should create their own security to hunt down the terrorists," Valentine Echemazu submitted.

Benjamin Atsu also commented: "A thief that stole a goat was prosecuted and sentenced, while a terrorist that bombed multitude is being forgiven, rehabilitated and set free. These terrorist enjoy better living conditions in this rehabilitation center than their victims in the IDP camps. Yet we claim to be fighting terrorism, what an irony of life."

"So there is provision for repentance in our constitution. These are people who have killed innocent lives in their hundreds, they are caught and after a while released under the guise of repentance, yet we spend billions of naira on the war. Terrorists are caught and instead of charging them to court to face the law, they are given VIP treatment and later released into the society. Just 2 days ago, 30 were killed and many others kidnapped. This is the response we get.Lets stop deceiving ourselves in this country," Oyewusi Ademola Michael also said.

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Chukwuma Ifemah said: "In a country where INSURGENCY has taken a more dangerous shape.. They are releasing so called REPENTANT terrorists.. Do Terrorists Repent?... Unbelievable!!!"

Terkula Gabriel Agena asked: "I am sorry for Nigeria, how do they know that they are now repent."

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Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that President Muhammadu Buhari had commiserated with the family of victims of the terrorist attack in Maiduguri, Borno state on Sunday, February 9.

The president assured them that his administration will continually frustrate the operations of terrorist group, Boko Haram, and bring it to an end.

The terrorists killed nine people and kidnapped some travellers along the Maiduguri-Damaturu highway around Auno town, in Konduga local government area of the state late at night.

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Source: Legit.ng

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