•Imo, Cross River also proposed
Before leaving office on May 29, President Goodluck Jonathan signed off on a proposal by his National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, that Boko Haram prisoners be moved from the North to the South East and South South to prevent jailbreak for which the jihadists are notorious.
President Muhammadu Buhari has retained Dasuki as NSA, a job he has held since 2012.
Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, accused Jonathan of endorsing the movement of the prisoners to his state; a claim denied by his predecessor, Peter Obi.
But impeccable Internal Affiars Ministry sources confirmed to TheNiche that Jonathan approved the relocation.
Plan to prevent jailbreak
It was learnt that the transfer was made to make it impossible for the terrorists to attempt jailbreak. Prisons where they are kept nationwide have enhanced security and military presence.
Other prisons in Imo and Cross River were also proposed to receive such dreaded inmates, but the transfer to Anambra has provoked protests.
The decision to relocate Boko Haram prisoners to the South East and South South was based on several jailbreaks carried out by the jihadists in the North, one of which was in Koton Karfe Prison, Kogi State.
The terrorists stormed the 80-year-old prison on November 2, 2014 with improvised explosives devices, AK 47 rifles, and other assorted weapons and gained entry by blowing up iron bars.
Several prisoners escaped, including high profile Boko Haram inmates. Only 12 of the total 145 prisoners were captured or returned willingly.
Because of frequent jailbreaks, Abuja had earlier relocated Boko Haram members from prisons in the North East to the North Central.
Koton Karfe Prison was thought to be out of reach for the terrorists to attempt escape.
The November attack altered the calculation, necessitating a new approach, which was to move the prisoners across the River Niger.
However, Jonathan left office before the paperwork and logistics could be concluded.
Anambra residents protest
News of the transfer of Boko Haram terrorists to Anambra unsettled residents, leading to protests in major cities.
By 8:45am on June 27, residents abandoned the monthly sanitation exercise to protest the transfer of the terrorists to Onitsha and Ekwulobia Prisons.
The Onitsha-Enugu Expressway was blocked by the protesters who sought to break into the prison, free inmates, and descend on Boko Haram members.
Eke Awka market in Awka was closed temporarily by traders who staged a protest on Zik Avenue.
Some of their placards read: “Buhari should not destroy the peace in Anambra State,” “Biafra Kanyi choro” (We want Biafra), “Buhari, Igbos cannot accept your prisoners,” “We don’t want Boko Haram in Anambra,” “Federal government, why extend Boko Haram to Anambra,” “Boko Haram prisoners are not allowed here”.
Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association (AMATAAS) Secretary General, Chuma Elucharu, said they closed markets to protest and it would continue until they are reassured by the federal government that Boko Haram prisoners would not be in the state.
Demonstrators threatened fire and brimstone in Onitsha.
But AMATAAS President General, Okwudili Ezenwankwo, urged them to be calm saying consultation would be made to ascertain the truth.
Obiano accuses Jonathan, Obi disagrees
Obi expressed shock over Obiano’s claim that the transfer of Boko Haram prisoners to Ekwulobia Prison in Anambra State was concluded in 2012 under Jonathan.
A report by Elombah.com, an online newspaper, quoted Obiano as saying through his Political Matters Adviser, Chinedu Obidigwe, that the decision was taken at a seminar organised for Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) officers.
Obiano disclosed that Kuje Prison in Abuja and Ekwulobia Prison in Anambra were chosen for the transfer.
“Since the transfer of the 47 inmates, panic has gripped the people of Ekwulobia as residents in the area are apprehensive of an imminent attack by members of the Boko Haram Islamic sect,’’ he said.
He explained that after Jonathan took the decision, the transfer could not be effected immediately because the time was close to the 2015 general election and there were fears it would jeopardise Jonathan’s second term ambition in the South East.
The prisoners were relocated after the election. The latest batch transferred on Sunday, June 28 involved hundreds of prisoners moved from Maiduguri to other locations in the country, including the South East.
A source said the prisoners transferred were those who surrendered willingly and needed rehabilitation, and the logic is that they should be placed out of the reach of Boko Haram chieftains for fear of re-indoctrination and possible killing by former colleagues.
“But the jihadists are long range tacticians and may be using the same Trojan horse tactics they used in removing Jonathan,” the source said.
Obi insisted that the relocation of Boko Haram terrorists had nothing to do with Jonathan.
He said through his spokesman, Valentine Obienyem, that it is nauseating and childish for Obiano to accuse Jonathan.
“[Obiano] is clearly looking for an alibi for an action that was against the people. He should look elsewhere and not in the direction of Peter Obi, who, since he left office, had opted to stay away from Awka and not to distract the present government in any way,” Obienyem said.
A reliable source who pleaded anonymity told TheNiche that “the transfers began before Buhari assumed office. The idea came from Dasuki, and was approved by Jonathan.
“But it is all part of the grand design by the North. They simply played on Jonathan’s ignorance.
“Some of the prisoners were also sent to Imo, and Cross River States. The only issue with Anambra is that the residents protested.
The source said it is easy to identify the prisons where Boko Haram prisoners are kept “because in such prisons there is enhance military presence.”
Imo, Cross River deny receiving memo
But even as the proposal Dasuki sent to Jonathan for approval of areas to send Boko Haram prisoners reportedly included Imo and Cross River States, prison officials in those states denied receipt of any memo to that effect.
Imo State Information Commissioner, Chidi Ibe, said he is not aware of such transfer.
And state Controller of Prisons, Canon Amaliri, denied receipt of such a memo, the same thing a senior prisons official in Calabar said.
Investigation showed that the backlash over the transfer to Anambra may have informed the decision to stay action on the transfer to other states.
No response from Dasuki
Efforts to reach Dasuki were not successful as he did not answer telephone calls. He also did not respond to a text message.
NPS Public Relations Officer, Francis Ebohon, could not be reached at press time. His telephone was switched off.
