President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, ordered the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) to release over 165 suspected Boko Haram members in its custody. A statement issued to the media in Abuja, by the DHQ, through its Director of Defence Information (DDI), Major General Chris Olukolade, said that the detainees would regain their freedom in compliance with the presidential directive.
The suspected persons were among those apprehended in the course of military operations on terror in three states in the North-East areas of the country.
The suspects, according to the DHQ, were those earlier recommended for release by the Joint Investigation Team, (JIT) set up by
the Defence Headquarters last year. “Of the number, 157 are from facilities in Borno, 9 from Yobe and one suspect from Adamawa”, the DHQ disclosed, stating that they would be released to their respective state governments. Detainees in this category, particularly women and children have also benefited from similar gestures which started in May last year.
However, the DHQ said that more suspects in this category were also to benefit in the present exercise. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Army yesterday said it was poised to defeating Boko Haram insurgency in the north just as it charged officers and men serving in the affected region to brace up for the task until the objective was achieved.
Speaking yesterday at the 3 Division, Nigeria Army, in Jos while taking over as the new GOC,Maj.- Gen. John Nwaoga, said the Army could not afford to lose the battle of insecurity especially in the North East and as such the need for all formations to work assiduously to enable them succeed.
His words: “You are all aware that the 7 Division and 3 Division are the centre point of the current security challenges in the North-East. I urge all of you to brace up because the job ahead of us is daunting. I want us to work in concert so that in no time we will put those challenges behind us.”
The new GOC who took over from Maj-Gen. Bonna Awala further said that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) had provided and was still providing a lot of resources and equipment to ensure that the army and other security agencies resolved the crises.
He appealed to the outgoing GOC who had been posted to Army Headquarters as Army Secretary, to assist the Division by ensuring that more personnel were posted to it. He expressed appreciation to the COAS for appointing him as the GOC of the division.
The new GOC solicited the cooperation of the people of Plateau and other states under the Division, adding that with their cooperation, the army would maintain peace in the states.
Earlier in his remarks, the out going GOC, Maj- Gen. Awala thanked the officers and soldiers of the Division for the support they gave him during his time as GOC. He appealed to them to give the same support to his successor. Until his appointment as the GOC 3 Division, Nwaoga was Commander, Nigeria Army Amoured Corps Bauchi.
