TheCable

The Nigerian army on Monday handed over 593 cleared Boko Haram suspects to the Borno state government.

Speaking at a ceremony where they were transferred to Borno authorities, Lucky Irabor, theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, said innocent people arrested in the course of the war against insurgency “will not stay a minute more than necessary”.

Represented by Abdulrahman Kuluya, a senior military officer, Irabor said the detainees were released after they had been cleared by the joint investigation team of the military.

He said the army would continue to ensure that there is peace in the north-east.

“The chief of army staff has always made it clear in different fora that all persons arrested in the course of the anti insurgency war in the north-east will not stay a minute more than necessary,” he said.

“Persons either arrested by the military or arrested and brought to the military by another person will not be allowed to stay more than necessary.

“The military has made several efforts in ensuring that peace return to the north-east by conducting different operations. Lots of efforts have been made to get us where we are today.”

He added that they were handed over to the state government for psycho-social support before finally re-integration into the society.

On her part, Ladi Musa, welfare officer at the Bulumkutu rehabilitation said that the Borno government had provided facilities at the center for the rehabilitation of the detainees.