By John Owen Nwachukwu
President Muhammadu Buhari has come under fire over the alleged release of about 100 Boko Haram terrorists.
The terrorists, according to a viral report, were released in exchange for the freedom of the kidnapped Abuja-Kaduna train travellers.
The Nigerian Correctional Service, NCS, has yet to debunk the report confirmed, especially by the Foundation for Investigative Journalism.
To add to this, the President, at the passing out parade and commissioning ceremony of cadets of Course 69 of the Nigerian Defence Academy, confirmed that his government had granted amnesty to terrorists.
Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has frowned at the development and slammed Buhari, accusing him of a lack of transparency in dealing with top security matters.
Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, the national coordinator of HURIWA, in a statement on Monday, said the President’s action shows the alleged complicity of the current administration.
The group called on the Buhari government to, without further delay, explain to Nigerians how the over 100 terrorists were set free from the Kirikiri prison, having been reportedly held since 2009 without trial.
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.”
