The report says wardens at the Kirikiri Medium Prison let the terrorists out as part of a swap deal for the release of the travellers who were abducted in Kaduna on March 28.
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
A new report claims that no fewer than 101 suspected Boko Haram terrorists were released from the Kirikiri Medium Security Prison in Lagos in exchange for the 23 remaining Abuja-Kaduna train passengers.
The terrorists holding the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers released the last batch of the abductees last Thursday.
The military says the abductees were rescued using a non-kinetic approach and the deployment of natural elements. It, however, did not explain what it meant by deployment of natural elements.
But according to an online newspaper, Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) published by ace Investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo, wardens at the kirikiri medium prison let the terrorists out as part of a swap deal for the release of the travellers who were abducted in Kaduna on March 28. The newspaper also published the names of the suspected Boko Haram terrorists.
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Quoting a source, FIJ reported that the freed suspects had been awaiting trial since 2009, adding that they knew about the Kuje jailbreak before it occurred.
“They secretly released 101 Boko Haram suspects around 6 am. The negotiations had been ongoing for some months. We used to pray together. During prayers, they spoke Hausa, and they told me they would be going home by October.
“Early yesterday (Saturday) morning, they owned the cell door and called them out. They had returned their properties already. I used to speak with one Adamu in G3 cell. He is no longer here. He is tall and slim and has a long face
“They told me that their release was based on negotiations and the pressure their sponsors gave Buhari. They felt if they didn’t get released before a new president, who might not be their tribesman took the seat, they might not be granted amnesty,” the source said.
Bu An official in the prison, however, denied the claim, as per reporting by Punch Newspaper.
The source said there were ongoing efforts to release the suspects based on their illegal detention without trial.
“There is an ongoing court process for the inmates to be released because they have been held since 2009 without trial. That process has not been completed to the best of my knowledge for the inmates to be released,” he added.
