President Muhammadu Buhari has been chastised for allegedly releasing over 100 Boko Haram militants.
According to a viral report, the terrorists were released in exchange for the release of the kidnapped Abuja-Kaduna train passengers.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) has yet to refute the proven report, particularly by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism.
In addition, the President stated that his government had offered amnesty to terrorists during the passing out parade and commissioning ceremony of cadets of Course 69 of the Nigerian Defence Academy.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has expressed concern and blasted Buhari, accusing him of a lack of transparency in dealing with important security issues.
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the national coordinator of HURIWA, said in a statement on Monday that the President’s decision demonstrates the current administration’s alleged complicity.
The group demanded that the Buhari administration explain to Nigerians how over 100 terrorists were released from the Kirikiri jail, where they had been incarcerated without trial since 2009.
HURIWA 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.”
