A total of 101 accused Boko Haram terrorists are said to have been released from the Kirikiri Medium Security Prison in Lagos State.
According to the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, wardens at the institution let them out as part of a swap deal for the release of travellers kidnapped on March 28 in Kaduna.
The majority of the released suspects were apprehended in Borno, Bauchi, and Kano states on suspicion of being Boko Haram members in late 2009, when police and other security agencies conducted operations that resulted in the arrest of several members of the terrorist organisation.
According to our source, the freed suspects had been awaiting trial since 2009, and they were aware of the Kuje jailbreak before it occurred. The suspects began selling their properties in prison on Wednesday in anticipation of their release.
Moreover, a source told SaharaReporters that “The Assistant Controller-General came to Kirikiri on Thursday and announced their release. A big vehicle was brought on Friday and they were transported to the airport.”
“Around 6 a.m., they surreptitiously freed 101 Boko Haram suspects.” The talks had been going on for some months. We used to pray as a group. They spoke Hausa during prayers and promised me they’d be home by October.
“They owned the cell door and called them out early yesterday (Saturday) morning.” They had already returned their belongings. I used to talk to Adamu in G3 cell. He is no longer present. He has a long face and is tall and thin.
“They told me that their release was contingent on negotiations and the pressure put on Buhari by their sponsors.” They feared that if they were not released before a new president, who might not be a member of their tribe, assumed office, they would not be granted amnesty,” the person claimed.
According to another source, the inmates were released as part of a swap deal with terrorists in exchange for the release of the remaining 23 abducted passengers from the Abuja-Kaduna train incident.
“It was actually a prisoner swap demanded by Boko Haram in exchange for the other 23 Kaduna train passengers captured by the sect on March 28, 2022,” stated the source.
However, a prison official refuted the claim.
According to the source, there are ongoing efforts to free the suspects based on their illegal incarceration without trial.
“There is an ongoing legal process for the detainees’ release because they have been jailed without trial since 2009.” To the best of my knowledge, that process has not been finished for the detainees to be released,” he added.
Attempts to contact the Nigerian Correctional Service on the subject were futile as of the time of filing this report.
It was also revealed that the Council’s Director-General requested the involvement of the Federation’s Attorney-General.
The DG noted in the letter that there was no longer any justification to retain the suspects in jail because the authorities had lost interest in the case.
He also mentioned that the detainees had gone through a de-radicalization programme organised by the authorities while inside the prison.
In his reaction, a twitter user identified as @Truthfully83 who claimed to have a classified information on this issue said: “At exactly 6am today, October 8, 2022, about 101 Boko Haram terrorists held in Kirikiri prison since 2009 were set free.
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”In what the government called Amnesty. But my investigation revealed otherwise. It is actually a prisoner swap demanded by Boko Haram, in exchange for the remaining 23 Kaduna train passengers kidnapped by the sect on the 28th of March 2022.
About 104 Boko Haram terrorists were arrested by the Yar’adua/Jonathan govt in 2009 and transferred to Lagos. Out of the 104 sent to Kirikiri prison, 3 died in jail, leaving 101 that were set free today (Go & verify this info).
They are held up in both Kirikiri maximum & medium prisons. But by my records, they have never been to court in Lagos since 2009 till date. Never been prosecuted.
On the 29th of Sep 2022, 30th Sep, and 3rd of Oct, the Controller of the Nigeria Correctional Services, Lagos Command, Controller B.R Freeman, Met with about 40 of those Boko Haram terrorists, locked up in Kirikiri medium prison. Where he told them that they should get ready to go.
That the federal government has granted them Amnesty, because of the upcoming 2023 election.That they should wait for further directives. (Ask Controller Freeman, let him deny it)
After the last meeting on the 3rd of October 2022, the remaining 23 Kaduna train passengers, kidnapped by Boko Haram were released on the 5th of October 2022, by the sect, to keep to their own terms of the agreement.
Controller Freeman came again to the prison on the 6th of Oct 2022, and just yesterday 7th of Oct, to finalise arrangements with the terrorists.
They packed up their belongings, prepared themselves, & waited. At about 6 am today, the cells were open, & they were all set free.
However, while the Federal Government of Nigeria has vehemently denied that it paid money for the Kaduna train captives, it is yet to deny that it swapped the 101 suspected Boko Haram prisoners for 23 captives.
You can read more of such stories at Credible News and The Cheer News
