Army Releases 42 Boko Haram Suspects

The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army in Maiduguri on Thrusday released 42 persons, who were among several detainees being held for alleged links to the dreaded Boko Haram sect.

The army explained that the detainees comprised Nigerians and foreign nationals and were arrested at different times and at separate locations over suspicion of having links with the fundamentalist group.

Handing over the detainees to the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, the spokesman of the division, Col. Sani Usman, said they had been found to have no link with the militant sect.

“The Nigerian Army has for some time been fighting terrorism in the country. During this period, some suspected terrorists were arrested and detained. However, after being investigated, 42 including three foreigners were found innocent and are now freed.

“These detainees were released after being cleared of having links to the Boko Haram terrorists group,” he said.
He explained that extensive investigations were conducted by the relevant security operatives which exonerated the suspects from having links either directly or indirectly with the violent group.

He said the three foreigners comprised Burkinabe, Camerounian and Chadian nationals.
Usman said the division had provided a token of N100,000 to each of the 39 Nigerians to return to their various homes.
He commended the state government and the residents for their support in the fight against terrorism.

Responding, Shettima thanked the division for the release of the suspects. He promised to assist in repatriating the three foreigners to their countries.

Shettima also gave an unspecified cash donation to the suspects. He directed the state Head of Service, Alhaji Bukar Yakubu, to employ some of them as tailors in the state service.
“For those of them who are tailors by trade, we will employ them to sew school uniforms for our students as we flag off free uniforms for Borno schools.

“Those who can drive will be employed in the state Road Maintenance Agency as drivers,” Shettima said.
He also promised to assist the students among the suspects to complete their studies