Why Nigerian Army released 257 suspected Boko Haram members

As part of the Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, the Nigerian Army on Sunday released 257 suspected Boko Haram members who were in detention to the Borno State government.

The detainees – comprised of men, women and children – were released to the Borno State Deputy Governor, Alhaji Usman Durkwa, during a ceremony at the Ramat Square in Maiduguri.

Handing over the detainees, the head of the military’s counter-insurgency operation in the North East (Operation Lafiya Dole) , Maj. Gen. Lucky Irabor, said the 257 Boko Haram detainees had been screened and found to be clean.

He said, “After screening them, we found them clean, but we will ensure that they are monitored even after the release. The Army Day celebration have afforded us opportunity to free them to mark the occasion.”