From UBONG UKPONG, Abuja
The Federal Government yesterday directed the military to immediately release an undisclosed number and names of suspected Boko Haram insurgents taken captive by the Special Forces in the ongoing military offensive in the North. This directive came 24 hours after the Defence Headquarters (DHQ)announced the capture of 120 Boko Haram insurgents, among several others intercepted by soldiers since the onslaught against the Islamist sect commenced.
Although the government was silent on the criteria and beneficiaries of this gesture, women were, however, to enjoy express freedom in the directive. A statement from the DHQ in Abuja, signed by the Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade, said that the directive was in the interest of peace and reconciliation, as sought by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation.
"Consequent upon the directive of the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, the Defence Headquarters will be releasing from detention a number of persons being held in connection with terrorist activities. "The move is in furtherance of the Federal Government's position in response to requests by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation.
"The measure which is in line with presidential magnanimity to enhance peace efforts in the country will result in freedom for suspects including all women under custody. "The details of the directive and those to benefit from this gesture have been communicated to field units and the Joint Task Force (JTF). "The beneficiaries will be released to the governors who will be involved in further rehabilitation before these suspects are released to their respective community leaders/relations", the DHQ stated.
Daily Sun learnt that even before the offensive commenced after the declaration of emergency rule in some parts of the North, President Goodluck Jonathan has been under serious pressure both from the region and internationally, not to unleash maximum force on suspected insurgents. This was said to have informed his decision not to dissolve the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation, which was set up earlier to explore ways of ending the Boko Haram insurgency.
Top military sources said that the announcement of such large number of people captured attracted sentiments from certain powerful people in the North, making the President to consider their request to have certain suspects released. The DHQ has also said that it did not withdraw its troops from Mali to attend to the internal security challenges.
Via: Sun News Online