Some 250 people who were arrested and held on
suspicion of links to Boko Haram Islamists have been
released and given $10, Nigeria's army said on Monday.
"Yesterday (Sunday), a total of 249 cleared suspected
Boko Haram terrorists and accomplices were released...
as approved by the chief of army staff in Maiduguri," said
Colonel Usman said in a statement that those released
included 169 men, 46 women and 34 children.
They were handed over to the Borno state government in
northeast Nigeria and told "to remain law-abiding and go
about their lawful business", he added.
"Each of them was given a token of N3,000 (naira, $10.4,
9.4 euros)," he said.
It was not stated how long they were all held in custody.
Most of those held were from Borno, epicentre of the
violence that has claimed at least 20,000 lives and made
more than 2.6 million homeless since 2009.
But one came from Lagos, 1,200 kilometres (760 miles)
away in the southwest, and two from neighbouring
Cameroon.
Nigeria's military has been repeatedly criticised for the
arbitrary detention of civilians during the seven-year Boko
Haram insurgency in the remote region.
Human rights groups have accused the army of keeping
suspects in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions and
have said many have died from disease, hunger,
dehydration and injury.
In May this year, Amnesty International called for one
military detention facility in Maiduguri to be shut down
after nearly 150 people, among them babies and children,
died in custody.
Troops have also been accused of carrying out torture
and summary executions.
Security analysts say arbitrary detention has robbed the
military of key on-the-ground intelligence from local
people as sweeping arrests have led to hostility and
resentment.
In February, 275 detainees were freed, including 50
children. Amnesty said none had been brought before a
court or allowed access to lawyers while in detention.
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