Insurgency: Borno Govt cleared, released 500 suspects, says Commissioner

The Borno Government has cleared 500 suspects of involvement in terrorism and released from Army detention facility at Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, made this in Maiduguri while responding to a leader of some aggrieved women in Borno, Hajja Gana, who alleged that some of their innocent men and children were being held at the barracks.

Gambo who was speaking during a question and answer session at a Public Presentation of Charters of Demand from Survivors, Victims and De-radicalized Women in Borno, organized by an indigenous NGO, Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, said all those released in batches were handed over to Borno Government.

“The latest batch released last week were 28 in number,” Gambo said.

She assured those whose relations were arrested by the military in connection with the insurgency to entertain no fear as long as such relations are innocent.

Gambo said that the state government is working closely with the military to ensure justice and fairness to all suspects.

The commissioner lauded the foundation for being in the forefront in seeking justice for the vulnerables and promoting peace and reconciliation in the state.

She said the government would look into the charter of demand from the survivors and victims of the insurgency, adding that many of the demands were being addressed under the “Borno Model” following the mass surrender of insurgents and their families.

The commissioner said that the Borno Model was a community based approach involving all stakeholders.

Also speaking on innocent persons in detention, the Executive Director of Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, lauded the Army for providing periodical access to the foundation to visit those in detention at Giwa barracks.

Allamin also noted the periodical release of those identified as innocent and urged the military to sustain the tempo to ensure that no innocent member of the society suffers for the crime he or she did not commit.

Highlight of the occasion is the presentation and review of the charter of demand by Prof. Abubakar Mu’azu, the Director, Center for Peace, Development and Diplomatic Studies, University of Maiduguri.