Summary:
Sources have it that suspected boko haram detainees were brought secretly into the state Sunday midnight amidst tight security. Protests by traders and youth groups were staged across the state.
All jailed Boko Haram members which were previously held in prisons across northern Nigeria are rumored to be transferred to a prison facility in Ekwulobia Prisons, Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra state.
Commercial activities were paralyzed Saturday when the rumor broke out. And protests by traders and youth groups was staged across the state.
The traders, who closed their shops at about 9am in major cities of Nnewi, Onitsha, Awka, Ekwulobia Agulu and others, took to the streets protesting what they termed as “plan by the Federal Government to transfer Boko Haram detainees to prisons in their state.
- Sources have it that suspected boko haram detainees were brought secretly into the state Sunday midnight amidst tight security.
- Protests by traders and youth groups were staged across the state.
- The NPS Public Relations Officer, Francis Enebore, said the terror suspects in prison custody are awaiting trial.
- Francis Enebore dismissed speculations that the prison authorities had planned to transfer terror suspects to Anambra State.
Speaking to journalists during the protests, the Secretary-General, Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association, Chief Chuma Elucharu, stated that traders in the state decided to shut down market places to protest the rumored relocation of Boko Haram detainees to the state.
The protesters placards bears writings like ‘Buhari should not destroy the peace in Anambra State,’ ‘Buhari, Igbos cannot accept your prisoners, ‘We do not want Boko Haram in Anambra,’ ‘we want Biafra, ‘Federal Government, why extend Boko Haram to Anambra?’ and ‘Boko Haram prisoners are not allowed here.’
However, sources have it that suspected boko haram detainees were brought secretly into the state Sunday midnight amidst tight security.
The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Uju Nwogu, could not confirm the incidence as she said Governor Willie Obiano had gone to Abuja to meet President Muhammadu Buhari over the matter.
Obiano’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr. James Eze, had in a statement and exonerated the governor from the relocation arrangement.
But the Nigeria Prisons Service, NPS has said there is no plan to transfer Boko Haram suspects in custody to Ekwulobia Prison as being speculated. The NPS Public Relations Officer, Francis Enebore, said the terror suspects in prison custody are still awaiting trial and will not be relocated out of the jurisdiction of the court where they would be prosecuted.
He also dismissed speculations that the prison authorities had formalized plans to transfer terror suspects from the northern states to Anambra State.
Enebore said, “Most of the terror suspects are awaiting trial and so, there is no way they can be moved to another state because they must be tried in the state where they committed the crime.
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May God Save our southeast.
ReplyDeleteIn Jesus name
Amen.