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Nigerian army releases over 1,000 Boko Haram suspects

Xinhua, November 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Some 1,271 persons suspected to be members of the Boko Haram terrorists group have been cleared and released by the Nigerian Army in restive northeast Borno State, an official said Monday.

Most of those released were women and children between February and October 2016, said Brig.-Gen. Victor Ezugwu, the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigerian Army.

"In February 135 persons comprising mainly women and children were released, 204 were released in May, while the remaining three releases were carried out in September and October," he said at a forum for the reintegration of children associated with armed forces or armed groups in northern city of Maiduguri.

He said the army had also improved on the provision of welfare for the detainees, noting that the children and vulnerable persons were fed three times daily with balanced diet.

"We always provide meat or fish in every meal and drinks every Sunday for them," he added.

"If fact, some of those released would have preferred to remain with us if they had the choice rather than move to IDPs camps," the military chief said. Endit