The military has released 182 suspects detained in connection with Boko Haram activities in Borno
State.
Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Kenneth Minimah, who handed over the released suspects to
the sate Governor, Kashim Shettima at the Maimalari Cantonment yesterday in Maiduguri, the state
capital, said the suspects had been investigated and found not to have any link with Boko Haram or
terror activities.
“We have over 100 detainees who were suspected to have link with Boko Haram. They include 100
men, 40 underaged boys, 24 women and 18 children. They have been thoroughly investigated and
acquitted of any involvement in the activities of Boko Haram or connected with the group, We have
decided to hand them over to the Borno State Government,” Minimah said.
He said the release of the suspects was part of the activities lined up for the Army Day celebration that
started in Abuja last week. He said the army decided to round up the event in Maiduguri, where its
troops were currently engaged in counter-insurgency operations codenamed: Operation Zaman Lafia.
He pledged that the military would not abdicate in its responsibility to protect Nigerian territory against
terrorists and end Boko Haram.
The army chief, who arrived Maiduguri yesterday with the military hierarchy, said the Army Day
celebration was to project achievements, capabilities and prospects of the Nigerian Army while
boosting the morale of men and officers fighting to restore peace in the North-East.
He said the army was holding some of the activities in Borno State being the worst hit by Boko Haram
insurgency among the affected three North-East states.
The decision, according to him, was to show the world that Borno State was secured with social and
economic activities going on.
Minimah had earlier paid a courtesy visit to Governor Shettima and the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar
Umar El-Kanemi, after which the trio laid wreath for the fallen soldiers at the military cemetery near the
Headquarters of the 7 Division of the Nigerian Army.
The Chief of Army Staff also addressed and decorated officers and troops in counter-insurgency
operations with medals at 212 Battalion Parade Ground, Maimalari Cantonment.
Shettima, who commended the military for adhering to the rule of law in handling of the cases of the
suspects, urged the media to be fair and just in their reportage of the Nigerian military.
