The Borno Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo says over 500 suspects recently cleared of involvement in terrorism have been released from the Army detention facility at Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri.
Gambo made this known on Wednesday in Maiduguri while responding to a leader of some aggrieved women in Borno, Hajja Gana, who alleged that some of their innocent men and children were being held at the barracks.
Gambo who was speaking during a question and answer session at a Public Presentation of Charters of Demand from Survivors, Victims and De-radicalized Women in Borno, organized by an indigenous NGO, Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, said the were released in batches few months ago and handed over to Borno Government.
“The latest batch released last week were 28 in number,” Gambo said.
She assured those whose relations were arrested by the military in connection with the insurgency to entertain no fear as long as such relations are innocent.
Gambo said that the state government is working closely with the military to ensure justice and fairness to all suspects.
The commissioner lauded the foundation for being in the fore front in seeking justice for the vulnerables and promoting peace and reconciliation in the state.
She said the government would look into the charter of demand from the survivors and victims of the insurgency, adding that many of the demands were being addressed under the “Borno Model” following the mass surrender of insurgents and their families.
The commissioner said that the Borno Model was a community based approach involving all stakeholders including security, members of community like traditional and religious leaders.
Also speaking on innocent persons in detention, the Executive Director of Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, lauded the Army for providing periodical access to the foundation to visits those in detention at Giwa barracks.
Allamin also noted the periodical release of those identified as innocent and urged the military to sustain the tempo to ensure that no innocent member of the society suffers for the crime he or she did not commit.
Highlight of the occasion is the presentation and review of the charter of demand by Prof. Abubakar Mu’azu, the Director, Center for Peace, Development and Diplomatic Studies, University of Maiduguri.