MAIDUGURI – The 7 Division of the Nigerian Army, Maiduguri, on Thursday released 42 persons suspected to be Boko Haram members.
The spokesman of the division, Col. Sani Usman, handed over the detainees to Gov. Kashim Shettima at the Government House, Maiduguri.
Usman said the detainees were released after being cleared of belonging to the Boko Haram terrorist group.
“The Nigerian Army has for sometime now been fighting terrorism in the country. Over time some suspected terrorists were arrested and investigated.
“Forty two of the suspects were cleared of having any link with the terrorist group. Three out of the 42 cleared suspects are foreigners while the rest are Nigerians,” he said.
He said that the three foreigners include a Burkinabe, a Cameroonian and a Chadian.
Usman said the release was effected after clearance from the Defence Heacdquarters in Abuja.
He said the division had provided a token of N100,000 to each of the 39 Nigerians to enable them return home.
“The army has provided a token of N100,000 to each of the 39 freed suspects to enable them start a new life,” Usman said.
He commended Borno residents for their support in the fight against terrorism.
Responding, Shettima thanked the army for releasing the suspects.
He promised to assist in repatriating the three foreigners to their home countries.
Shettima also made an unspecified cash donation to the suspects.
He directed the Head of Service in the state, 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 launch the issuance of free uniforms to our students.
“Those who can drive will be employed in the state road maintenance agency as drivers,” the governor said.
He also promised to assist those who were students to complete their studies. (NAN)
