No fewer than 90 women and children
being held in connection with activities of the Boko Haram sect are to
benefit from the first phase of the presidential directive on release.
A top Defence source, who disclosed this
to one of our correspondents, said that the military had compiled names
of those that would regain freedom.
He said, “I can say that between 90 and 100 women and children would benefit from the first phase of the exercise.
“We are not keen on detaining anybody
and we cannot disobey the order of the commander-in-chief. Whenever we
get the order to release any detainee, we will do so.”
The source said the decision of the
government was designed to send a signal to Boko Haram that the Federal
Government had not foreclosed the option of amnesty as a solution to the
insurgency.
He stressed that with the decision to
set free the women and children, the government expected the sect to
accept the offer of dialogue, adding that more detainees would be
released from time to time based on the outcome of the negotiations
between the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation and
the insurgents.
The source stated, “Others will be
released later but I think everything depends on the outcome of the
negotiations between the Amnesty Committee and the militants.
“You know, this thing is political, so it is difficult to put a number to all the people that would benefit from the exercise.”
President Goodluck Jonathan had on
Tuesday directed the Defence Headquarters to release some terror
suspects from detention, especially the women and children.
The Director of Defence Information,
Brig.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, said in an electronic mail that the
directive followed a request by the Presidential Committee on Dialogue
and Reconciliation for their release.
Olukolade had stated, “Consequent upon
the directive of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed
Forces of Nigeria, the Defence Headquarters will be releasing from
detention a number of persons being held in connection with terrorist
activities.
“The move is in furtherance of the
Federal Government position in response to requests by the Presidential
Committee on Dialogue and Reconciliation.
“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.”
Meanwhile, Amnesty International has
urged the Federal Government not to use the state of emergency in the
North-East zone as an excuse to commit human rights violations.
The international organisation, in a
statement on Thursday by its Deputy Director for Africa, Lucky Freeman,
said many people had been killed and arrested since the state of
emergency was declared.
It said, “President Goodluck Jonathan
must order the military to respect human rights and the rule of law; the
military is not above the law.
“The government has an obligation to
ensure the safety of all Nigerians, firstly by addressing the attacks
from Boko Haram, but also by eliminating the human rights violations
carried out by the very state security forces who are supposed to
provide protection.
“Several people have reportedly been
killed and hundreds arrested since a state of emergency was declared in
the northern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe on May 14. The military
reportedly claim those targeted are suspected members of Boko Haram.”
But Olukolade denied the AI’s allegations.
He said, “The allegation is untrue,
unfair, malicious and unfounded. You cannot describe somebody found in a
terrorist camp or in such an environment as indiscriminate arrest.
“This is the mindset of people who have
made up their mind to discredit the military and this ongoing operation.
The operation was planned with adequate consideration of the citizens’
rights.
“It is unfair, malicious. Untrue and I
must say that we have done very well in this operation. We have observed
the rules of engagement.”
The President had on May 14 declared a
state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states with the aim of
flushing out members of the Boko Haram sect.
At least, 2,400 people have fled the
region for neighbouring Niger Republic, according to a statement
released on Tuesday by the International Committee of the Red Cross.
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