The Borno State Government has said about 1,400 repentant Boko Haram suspects have been released by the military and rehabilitated into society.
This was confirmed by Borno State Commissioner for Information, Babakura Jato, during an interview with The Punch on Monday.
He explained that 1, 400 had been released in three tranches since the ‘Operation Safe Corridor’ programme began.
According to him, the release of suspects only began in 2018 since the programme started in 2016.
Jato said most of the persons released were not actually Boko Haram members but were relatives of terrorists or persons found in the wrong place at the wrong time.
The commissioner said;
There have been a series of releases. They were released in three tranches. The first set was released during Governor Shettima’s time while two sets have been released under Prof. Zulum.
The total number of persons released is 1,400. Out of the 1,400, the majority of them are cleared suspects. These were people who were suspected of being members of Boko Haram and it was discovered that they were not. The rest are children of Boko Haram or actual Boko Haram members. I cannot give you a breakdown of the figure now for security reasons.
The government’s spokesman added that he was aware of allegations that some of those released had gone back to terrorism but argued that most of these allegations were mere speculations.
Jato explained that after the training, they were handed over to the Borno State Government for proper integration into their communities.
He stated that if any person was rejected by his community for being a former Boko Haram member, the government would resettle that person.
Meanwhile, this news has led many Nigerians to cry out on social media, expressing their various opinions about the release.
See some tweets below:
This pic.twitter.com/UGtH73Xe7N
— Mr. Gomez (@MistaGomez_) February 11, 2020
Repentant BokoHaram?
An elite, close to mainstream guys told me,” if NigerDelta can get armesty, scholarships & Jobs, what stops BokoHaram”
I asked him, whose right is BokoHaram fighting for. He said it doesn’t matter.
It’s painful that’s the mentality of those leading us.— WorldSegaDay Balogun🦋 (@balogunfd) February 11, 2020
Imagine releasing as many as 1,400 murderers as having repented! That does not serve justice at all – justice to the society & to people murdered. As a matter of fact, they still remain as a source of potential danger to the society.
— ROUN (@rounNewDawn) February 11, 2020
…and we have a president & senate who approves of this?😂😂😂😂😂, I have to laugh bcos if it was an IPOB member, he will be thrown in jail & forgotten…those that voted @MBuhari , I hope you all enjoy the upside down nature of the country.
— Eryko♣️♠️ (@erikuzee) February 11, 2020
Questions:
What mental breakdown will this news bring to soldiers who fought & lost colleagues, capturing these terrorists?
Who on earth wouldn’t agree to repentance, knowing you’re about to gain freedom?
Why ain’t we applying this measure for murderers, robber & kidnappers?
— SEKONI.🇳🇬 (@SekoniTweets) February 11, 2020
Who knows where there send them as their sent 400 to Abia state yesterday with 35 bus’s today this 1,800 Boko Haram terrorists members will be divide to other BIAFRA states Enugu, Anambara, Eboyi, Imo, River, Bayasa, C/River am sure no1 can stop them from entering those states pic.twitter.com/VFy3Vj0To8
— Henry Obi (@HenryObi042) February 11, 2020
A “repentant” Boko haram terrorist was recruited into the army by the government. He got there and was posted to join the battalion fighting his Boko Haram brothers. Guess what he did.
He arranged for men of the Nigerian army to get ambushed and butchered. Problem dey
— You Know Za Vibes 👊🏼 (@JahmalUsen) February 11, 2020
1,400 repentant Boko Haram suspects released
Over 30 civilians killed and several vehicles burnt by Boko Haram
Journalists and activists are being sent to jail while terrorists are being released
Journalism is a threat, terrorism is a play
Animal farm
— nafiiu (@nafeezi) February 11, 2020
