The Red Cross has said at least 2,400 people have fled violence in
northern Nigeria just as the country said Tuesday it would release
several suspects held for “terrorist activities,” including all women in
custody, in what it called a peace gesture to the Islamists it is
battling in the north, reports AFP.
According to the Red Cross on
Tuesday, the fleeing people were being provided with emergency supplies
in the Diffa area of Niger.
“These people, most of whom are
originally from Niger but settled in Nigeria some time back, in some
cases decades ago, are completely destitute,” said Jean-Nicolas Marti,
head of the International Committee of the Red Cross’ regional
delegation for Niger and Mali.
“They have been taken in by families that are sharing their meagre resources with them.”
The Red Cross noted that the Diffa area was the scene earlier this year of severe flooding.
“If
population displacement were to continue at the current pace, or to
increase, there is a risk that the delicate economic and food balance in
the area could be destroyed, with consequences for the resident
population,” said Marti.
In neighbouring Cameroon, authorities
have tightened border controls to prevent fleeing Boko Haram insurgents
from taking refuge there.
“But it is not easy to track down
suspected Boko Haram members because of the porosity of the borders,” a
police officer in the Fotokol district told AFP.
“With the massive
influx of Nigerians last week, it is absolutely necessary to intensify
patrols so that certain members of Boko Haram do not infiltrate into our
territory.”
Motorcycles and Cameroonian vehicles are not allowed into Gamboru, a Nigerian border town.
Residents are only allowed to cross a bridge linking both borders by foot between 0900 GMT and 1700 GMT.
Meanwhile,
the announcement that Boko Haram suspects be released came as Nigeria
pressed ahead with a nearly week-old offensive against Islamist
insurgents.
“Consequent upon the directives of the president, the
Defence Headquarters will be releasing from detention a number of
persons being held in connection with terrorist activities,” a defence
statement said, adding it included “all women under custody.”
Islamist
extremist group Boko Haram has previously demanded the release of women
prisoners, though the defence statement made no mention of the demand.
Suspected
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau claimed in a recent video that the
group was holding women and children hostage in retaliation for wives
and children of its members detained by the military. The defence
statement said the move was linked to recommendations from a panel set
up by the presidency to explore options for dialogue with the
insurgents.
“The measure, which is in line with presidential
magnanimity to enhance peace efforts in the country, will result in
freedom for suspects including all women under custody,” it said.
Nigerian
authorities have been accused of unlawful detentions and indiscriminate
arrests in connection with the Islamist insurgency.
Residents
caught up in the violence were given a measure of relief on Tuesday,
with authorities relaxing a round-the-clock curfew in the northeastern
Nigerian city of Maiduguri, Boko Haram’s stronghold.
The relaxing
of the curfew, initially imposed on Saturday, allowed residents to begin
venturing out between 7:00 am (0600 GMT) and 5:00 pm to restock on food
and supplies.
“I have been indoors since Saturday night because
of the 24-hour curfew,” one resident said. “I have to come out today to
get money in the bank and purchase food items and other essential
commodities for my family.”
However, the government gave no sign that its offensive would let up and requested support from neighbouring Niger.
“As
you know, there are operations in progress in Nigeria in three states
very affected by the problem of terrorism, and we are hoping to have
support from the Republic of Niger in the battle to defeat these
terrorists,” Nigerian junior foreign minister Nurudeen Muhammed said.
Speaking in Niger after talks with President Mahamadou Issoufou, he did not specify what type of support.
Nigeria
launched the sweeping operation on May 15, deploying thousands of
troops across three states — Adamawa, Borno and Yobe — where President
Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency after the Islamists
seized territory.
Fighter jets targeted Boko Haram strongholds in
the offensive seeking to end the deadly Islamist insurgency underway
since 2009. Telecommunications in affected areas have been out of
service since the weekend.
On Monday, Nigeria’s military said it
had re-established control in five remote areas of the northeast. About
120 of the insurgents had also been arrested, the military had said.
Nigeria’s
military has previously been accused of major abuses in its fight
against Boko Haram, and activists as well as the United States have
raised concerns over the latest fighting.
The Boko Haram conflict is estimated to have cost 3,600 lives since 2009, including killings by the security services.
At
least 2,400 people had fled violence in northern Nigeria and were being
provided with emergency supplies in the Diffa area of Niger, the Red
Cross said Tuesday.
“These people, most of whom are originally
from Niger but settled in Nigeria some time back, in some cases decades
ago, are completely destitute,” said Jean-Nicolas Marti, head of the
International Committee of the Red Cross’ regional delegation for Niger
and Mali.
“They have been taken in by families that are sharing their meagre resources with them.”
The Red Cross noted that the Diffa area was the scene earlier this year of severe flooding.
“If
population displacement were to continue at the current pace, or to
increase, there is a risk that the delicate economic and food balance in
the area could be destroyed, with consequences for the resident
population,” said Marti.
In neighbouring Cameroon, authorities
have tightened border controls to prevent fleeing Boko Haram insurgents
from taking refuge there.
“But it is not easy to track down
suspected Boko Haram members because of the porosity of the borders,” a
police officer in the Fotokol district told AFP.
“With the massive
influx of Nigerians last week, it is absolutely necessary to intensify
patrols so that certain members of Boko Haram do not infiltrate into our
territory.”
Motorcycles and Cameroonian vehicles are not allowed into Gamboru, a Nigerian border town.
Residents are only allowed to cross a bridge linking both borders by foot between 0900 GMT and 1700 GMT.
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Boko Haram: 2,400 Flee War Zone
Boko Haram: 2,400 Flee War Zone
CuteNaija
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Wednesday, May 22, 2013
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