The Borno government has announced the clearance of 500 individuals suspected of terrorism involvement, who have subsequently been released from the Army detention facility at Giwa Barracks, Maiduguri.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, addressed this issue in Maiduguri while addressing a group of aggrieved women led by Hajja Gana from Borno. Gana had raised concerns that some innocent men and children from their community were being detained at the barracks.
During a question-and-answer session at a public presentation of charters of demand from survivors, victims, and deradicalized women in Borno, organized by the indigenous NGO Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, Gambo explained that all individuals released in stages were transferred to the Borno government.
“The latest batch released last week was 28 in number,” Gambo said.
She reassured individuals whose family members had been detained by the military in connection to the insurgency that there was no need for concern as long as those relatives were innocent.
Gambo emphasized that the state government was collaborating closely with the military to ensure that all suspects received justice and fairness.
The commissioner commended the foundation for its leading role in advocating for justice for the vulnerable and fostering peace and reconciliation within the state.
She mentioned that the government would examine the list of demands from survivors and victims of the insurgency, noting that many of these demands were being addressed through the “Borno Model” following the mass surrender of insurgents and their families.
The commissioner explained that the Borno Model was a community-driven approach that involved participation from all stakeholders.
Furthermore, addressing the issue of innocent individuals in detention, Hajiya Hamsatu Allamin, the Executive Director of the Allamin Foundation for Peace and Development, commended the Army for granting the foundation periodic access to visit detainees at Giwa barracks.
Allamin also observed the periodic release of those found innocent and encouraged the military to maintain this pace to ensure that no innocent member of society suffers unjustly for a crime they did not commit.
The focal point of the event is the presentation and examination of the charter of demands by Prof. Abubakar Mu’azu, the Director of the Centre for Peace, Development, and Diplomatic Studies at the University of Maiduguri.