The Chief of Defence Staff, General Gabriel Olonisakin, on Friday handed over three cleared Boko Haram suspects to their states.
The suspects are: Bakura Tijani, Saidu Lawal and Muhammed Umoru from Yobe and Borno States.
Olonisakin said the gesture was to further demonstrate the level of adherence and observance of the rule of law and transparency by the military in the prosecution of the fight against terror in the North East.
He was represented by the Chief of Administration of the Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Andrew Dacosta.
The defence chief said the suspects had been investigated and cleared, hence the need to officially hand them over to their state officials.
He noted that such professional conduct had been exhibited by the military in the past, particularly by the Nigerian Army.
Olonisakin said: “The exercise is a continuous one and as many suspects that are cleared will be released.”
He said that the Armed Forces were committed to the observance of the rule of law, human rights and international best practices.
Olonisakin said it was in this regard that the DHQ recently initiated the operation SAFE CORRIDOR to de-radicalise, rehabilitate and integrate surrendered Boko Haram members into the society.
He said the initiative was yielding results as some members of the group were surrendering.
Responding, the representative of the Yobe State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Gonori, who is the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, said the state was committed to the plight of its citizens.
“The state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam, is committed to the plight of citizens of the state wherever they are,” Gonori said.
He said the state government had constituted a committee to de-radicalise cleared Boko Haram members and reintegrate them into the society.
“We also counsel them using various religious organisations,” he said.
Gonori commended the military for the gesture, adding that it had opened a new set of collaboration between the military and the civil authority.
Speaking on behalf of the suspects, Tijani expressed joy and thanked the military for releasing them.
He also thanked Governor Gaidam “for remembering us all these years”.
The suspects had been in detention for two years.
Umoru, the suspect from Borno State, could not be claimed because of the absence of his state official.
The suspects are: Bakura Tijani, Saidu Lawal and Muhammed Umoru from Yobe and Borno States.
Olonisakin said the gesture was to further demonstrate the level of adherence and observance of the rule of law and transparency by the military in the prosecution of the fight against terror in the North East.He was represented by the Chief of Administration of the Defence Headquarters, Rear Admiral Andrew Dacosta.
The defence chief said the suspects had been investigated and cleared, hence the need to officially hand them over to their state officials.
He noted that such professional conduct had been exhibited by the military in the past, particularly by the Nigerian Army.
Olonisakin said: “The exercise is a continuous one and as many suspects that are cleared will be released.”
He said that the Armed Forces were committed to the observance of the rule of law, human rights and international best practices.
Olonisakin said it was in this regard that the DHQ recently initiated the operation SAFE CORRIDOR to de-radicalise, rehabilitate and integrate surrendered Boko Haram members into the society.
He said the initiative was yielding results as some members of the group were surrendering.
Responding, the representative of the Yobe State Government, Alhaji Ahmed Gonori, who is the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, said the state was committed to the plight of its citizens.
“The state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Geidam, is committed to the plight of citizens of the state wherever they are,” Gonori said.
He said the state government had constituted a committee to de-radicalise cleared Boko Haram members and reintegrate them into the society.
“We also counsel them using various religious organisations,” he said.
Gonori commended the military for the gesture, adding that it had opened a new set of collaboration between the military and the civil authority.
Speaking on behalf of the suspects, Tijani expressed joy and thanked the military for releasing them.
He also thanked Governor Gaidam “for remembering us all these years”.
The suspects had been in detention for two years.
Umoru, the suspect from Borno State, could not be claimed because of the absence of his state official.
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