Boko Haram Update: President Jonathan Releases N1bn for Detention Camps’ Upgrade

President
Goodluck
Jonathan said he has approved the
disbursement of N1 billion to the military for
the upgrade of detention camps where
suspected insurgents are held across the
country. The President also explained how
the insurgents attacked military and aviation
facilities in Maiduguri.
The President disclosed this during an interview in
Paris, France, on December 6, 2013, Saturday,
shortly before his departure to Nigeria at the end of
a two-day summit on peace and security in
Africa hosted by President Francois Hollande.
Mr. Jonathan said he gave the approval for the
disbursement, following series of complaints by
local and international human rights groups on the
conditions of barracks which housed the detention
camps.
He said he was specifically concerned about a
human rights report on the situation of Giwa
Barracks where some of the suspected Boko Haram
detainees were kept.
"They were talking about some conditions in the
barracks and because of that, not quite long, I
released N1 billion to make sure that they expand
the facilities in detention camps, particularly the
camp in Giwa Barrack that they complained about.
"Boko Haram faithfuls that are arrested are being
detained in some numbers of places and not only
Giwa barracks.
"Following complaints that I received, about that
particular barrack, I called the Chief of Defence
Staff to go and use the army engineers to quickly
expand and improve the facilities so that people
arrested will live under normal human conditions,"
President Jonathan said.
The President further stated that reports of human
rights abuses by the Joint Military Task Force (JTF)
were over-blown by the media, and most of the
reported torture and killings were carried out by
the Boko Haram group and not the military.
President Jonathan also noted that the state of
emergency declared in Borno, Yobe and
Adamawa States has greatly curbed the excesses
of the Boko Haram.
"Before the emergency rule, even Abuja which is at
the centre of the country was not safe. You could
recall how the world became alarmed when the UN
building in Abuja was bombed and even the Police
headquarters in Abuja and a military market also
were bombed; as well as a popular newspaper
house.
"But with the declaration of state of emergency, we
have been able to get to a point that our challenges
are now in Borno State and Yobe State.
"Though, we are still having this issue of occasional
attack, but definitely, the emergency rule has
helped," he concluded.
President Jonathan disclosed that the recent attack
by Boko Haram in Maiduguri, which led to damage
of five military aircraft by the insurgents, proved
that the sect has international backing adding that
the operations of the extremists had gone beyond
the local militia group which it was earlier
classified.
"…This last attack in Maiduguri, they came with
about 15 to 20 Hilux vehicles and each of them was
mounted with two to four rocket launchers. They
were over 100 and some of them were carrying
assault rifles and other weapons. The question then
is that, where do they get the weapons?
"Definitely, these weapons cannot come from the
locals, they are coming from somewhere,'' he said,
in reference to the attack that.
The President, who said that the government is
already working on available clues to unmask the
external supporters of the sect, appealed to the
international community to assist the government
in tracing the sources.
However, Goodluck Jonathan noted that
government has not foreclosed the option of
dialogue with the sect if that would end the
insurgency. He added that while government will
keep the lines of dialogue open, the military will
continue to carry out its operations to protect the
lives and properties of the citizens.
On the kidnapping of a French priest in Northern
Cameroon and reportedly taken to Nigeria, the
President said he was yet to receive a
comprehensive report the issue.
"Though, we got the information, but I cannot give
any categorical statement. But, we know that the
tradition of hostage takers is mobility because
when they are being tracked, they move," he said.
Source: Premium Times

Sent From David Aniemeka