IN compliance to the presidential directive to release detained Boko Haram suspects, the military Joint Task Force (JTF) in Borno and Yobe States Friday released and handed over 58 suspects, comprising 20 women and 38 children to Governors Kashim Shettima and Ibrahim Gaidam at the Government House of the affected states.
In Borno State, six women and 14 children between the ages of nine and 14 were handed over to Governor Shettima at the Government House, Maiduguri, by the JTF spokesman Lt. Col Sagir Musa.
The spokesman of JTF in Yobe State, Lt. Lazarus Eli, also presented 38 released suspects to Yobe State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Ahmed Mustapha Goniri at the Government House, Damaturu. The released suspects include 17 women and 21 children between the ages of eight and 15.
Presenting the released suspects to Governor Shettima, the Brigade Commander of 21 Armoured Brigade on behalf of Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sa’ad Ola Ibrahim said: “On behalf of the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral Sa’ad Ibrahim, we are handing over the six women and 14 children arrested so that they could be fully rehabilitated and reintegrated into the society and become responsible and good citizens of this state.”
While receiving the suspects, governor Shettima said: “We most sincerely thank Mr. President for his magnanimity. This marks a milestone in our quest for peace and to restore normalcy not only in Borno state, but the entire region of the North and the country at large.”
He, therefore, commended men of JTF for keeping the detainees “hale and heart,” adding that they will be fully rehabilitated for them to be better citizens. The governor also pledged that the released Boko Haram suspects would be trained in various skills and trades, while the 14 children would be sent to schools.
“These released young women and children before us today (Friday) in Maiduguri would be trained at various vocational training centres to acquire skills and trades. The 17 very young men will also be sent to schools; a sum of N10, 000 would be given to them if their parents agree to fully enroll them into schools. The enrolment of these kids was also under the fulfillment of a condition of attending schools for 30 days running without a break.”
Shettima also urged the released suspects to be good citizens, warning that they should not rejoin the Boko Haram sect as from the day (Friday, May 31, 2013) they gained their freedom from detention.
Speaking on subsequent release of suspects still in detentions, Lt. Eli said the release of the 38 women and children in Yobe State would serve the purpose for which it was intended by the Federal Government, disclosing that other detainees would also be released in subsequent batches.
Responding, Governor Gaidam, who was represented by his Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Goniri, thanked the JTF for releasing 38 women and children in Yobe State, promising that the released detainees would be fully rehabilitated and integrated into the society.
“The state government will provide all the required support and integration into society, so that they become ‘useful and responsible’ citizens in their respective communities and wards. I also hope that the release of these people would facilitate and speed up the much awaited peace process in the state and the country at large
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