Prominent civil rights advocacy group, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), on Monday, slammed the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari, for alleged secret release of over 100 Boko terrorists imprisoned at the Kirikiri Medium Security Prison, Lagos State.
News Band had earlier cited multiple sources who confirmed the story that the President Buhari-led government secretly released 101 Boko Haram terrorists in exchange for the kidnapped but freed Kaduna train passengers.
The reporter even released the names of the 101 Boko Haram terrorists held in Kirikiri prison since 2009 but secretly released on October 8, 2022, in exchange for the remaining 23 Kaduna train passengers kidnapped by the sect.
Read the full story below:’
Multiple sources say Buhari secretly released 101 terrorists in exchange for freed train passengers
Reacting in a statement, HURIWA’s National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, said the reported clandestine overnight release of the inmates by the President again shows complicity of the Buhari’s nepotistic regime and lack of transparency in discharge of duties.
The group demanded an immediate explanation from the Buhari regime over the reported release of over 100 terrorists from the Kirikiri prison who have been reportedly held since 2009 without trial.
According to reports, the insurgents were released as part of a swap deal for the release of train travellers who were abducted in Kaduna on March 28.
The Nigerian Correctional Service till this moment has not debunked the reports confirmed especially by The Foundation for Investigative Journalism.
Last Thursday, Buhari was in Afaka, Kaduna State, at the passing-out parade and commissioning ceremony of cadets of Regular Course 69 of the Nigerian Defence Academy and he confirmed that “amnesty” was granted to terrorists.
“We have devised both military and non-military methods to intervene, and even rolled out an amnesty programme to rehabilitate repentant terrorists who surrendered and laid down their arms unconditionally,” the President said.
Aside from Buhari, Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, had at various times confirmed amnesty granted to thousands of so-called repentant Boko Haram terrorists who were given capital and reintegrated into the society.
Commenting, HURIWA’s Onwubiko said: “Nigerians are shocked at the latest antics of the regime of President Muhammadu in the reported release of over 100 Boko Haram terrorists from the Kirikiri prison shows the total absence of transparency and accountability in the fight on terror.
“The secrecy behind the intermittent releases of terrorists under different guises by the current government is abysmal and anti-people and illegal.
“The recent release of Boko Haram convicted terrorists at Lagos prison validates claims by a former Navy Commodore, Kunle Olawunmi, who said on live television in August 2021 that Boko Haram has moneybags in Aso Rock and the National Assembly.
“In September 2020, a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, the late Obadiah Mailafia, also said a serving northern governor was a Boko Haram leader.”
HURIWA, therefore, called on the government to come clean on the release of the Kirikiri inmates.
It also demanded that the near moribund National Assembly should work or be consigned to the dustbin of history forever for its unresponsiveness to their duty as legislators in this dispensation since 2019 when they came on board and started working as lackeys of the executive arm of government. Read more.
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