Army Releases 250 Boko Haram Suspects

Some 250 people who were arrested and held on suspicion of links to Boko Haram Islamists have been released and given $10, Nigeria’s army said today.

“Yesterday (Sunday), a total of 249 cleared suspected Boko Haram terrorists and accomplices were released… as approved by the chief of army staff in Maiduguri,” said army spokesman Sani Usman.

Colonel Usman said in a statement that those released included 169 men, 46 women and 34 children. They were handed over to the Borno state government in northeast Nigeria and told “to remain law-abiding and go about their lawful business”, he added.

“Each of them was given a token of N3,000 (naira, $10.4, 9.4 euros),” he said. It was not stated how long they were all held in custody.