249 suspected Boko Haram terrorists, accomplices regain freedom

ABOUT 249 cleared suspected Boko Haram terrorists and accomplices were released by the Joint Interrogation as approved by the Chief of Army Staff in Maiduguri.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja.

Those cleared and released, according to the statement were 169 males, 46 women and 34 children.

Breakdown further showed that 203 of them were from 18 local government areas of Borno State, while 44 were from other states, as follows: Adamawa (two), Jigawa (two), Lagos (one), Oyo (one) and Yobe (38). However, two of them were from the Republic of Cameroon.

The released persons were handed over to the Borno State government through the Commissioner for Local Government  by the acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Brigadier-General Victor Ezugwu. The two foreigners were, however, handed over to the Borno State command of the Nigerian Immigration Service.

In his remarks, the commissioner advised the released detainees to remain law-abiding and go about their lawful businesses.

Each of them was given a token of N3,000 each.

Meanwhile, the troops of 101 Battalion, 7 Division Garrison on foot patrol alongside some elements of Civilian JTF, intercepted a suspected male suicide bomber at Sabon Gari Jidari.

The suspect carrying primed Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) concealed in a blue stabiliser casing gave his name as Yusuf Tasiu.

He was dispossessed of the explosives while the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Devices expert safely detonated it.

The suicide bomber is currently being interrogated.