Also on Tuesday, Nigeria’s military imposed a ban on the use of horses in the country’s northeastern state of Borno in a bid to stop deadly raids by Boko Haram terrorists.
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Responding to a question on the recent recapture of Gamboru Ngala town in Borno State from Boko Haram, Abubakar said Nigerians will not be surprised with any more recapture of territories because the capacity of Boko Haram to hold territories has been degraded.
Buratai said: “The task of Operation Lafiya Dole can be seen in three terms, to defeat the insurgents, to facilitate humanitarian activities and observe human right and restore the administrative functions in the liberated area”.
According to Usman, the Nigerian Army would like to reiterate and renew its commitment to upholding human rights principles and practice.
Thanking the Nigerian army for the release of the detainees, Gov. Kashim Shettima urged them not to disappoint the army and the state government, emphasizing that they should pray for peace to return to the state and Nigeria at large.
“Through the magnanimity and professionalism of the Nigerian Army, you have been released and will be fully integrated into the society”.
Parading the suspects at the military base of the 27th Military Taskforce Brigade in Damaturu, the Acting Commander of the taskforce, Colonel Dahiru Bako said the suspects were arrested from different locations across the state.
Despite losing some territorial control since the election of President Buhari in March, Boko Haram have stepped up suicide bomb attacks and hit-and-run raids on villages, killing at least 1,000 people in six months. The military seized items from them that included food, cannabis, cigarettes, fuels and fertilizers that can be used to make improvised explosive devices, he said.
He thanked the Army and the government for making them to regain their freedom.
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The military had, earlier on July 6, freed 182 suspects, after a team of investigators cleared them of involvement with the group.
