Nigerian Soldiers
Following
the relocation of Boko Haram detainees to the Ekwulobia Prisons in
Anambra State, the military have taken over the security of the
facility.
SUNDAY PUNCH investigations
showed that security operations in the Federal Government facility are
no longer the exclusive preserve of the officials of the Nigeria Prison
Service.
The development, sources told our
correspondent, is not unconnected with the calibre of the detainees
being held behind the walls of the facility.
A visit by our correspondent to the
prison on Saturday showed that armed military personnel were located in
strategic locations around the prison.
The development has also brought some form of hardship to residents of the host communities of the prison.
Free human and vehicular movement is no
longer allowed around the place. Our correspondent sighted soldiers
compelling passers-by to raise up their arms and get frisked before they
were allowed passage. Vehicles were also searched.
Residents of Anambra had last week taken
to the streets protesting against the relocation of the detainees. But
the Federal Government had reacted saying it was a mere rumour.
But happenings around the facility on
Friday further learnt credence to the report that the Boko Haram
detainees had been relocated to the quiet Anambra town.
“It is like a war situation. We no
longer move freely; we don’t even talk freely because you don’t know who
is who now. Armoured vehicles are everywhere” Stanley Ezechukwu, a
primary school teacher in the area told our correspondent.
One of the soldiers who spoke on
condition of anonymity said, “We are here to ensure that the prison is
not attacked by the people who have demonstrated their resentment over
the transfer of the detainees.”
Professor Chuwuemeka Ike, the
traditional Ruler of Ndikerionwu, a neighboring community to Ekwulobia ,
condemned the transfer of the detainees to the area.
He acknowledged, however that prisons
transfers are normal, but maintained that with the sensitive nature of
the prisoners, the transfer of the Boko Haram detainee could have been
avoided.
A press statement on Saturday by the
Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano on Media, Mr James
Eze, was not specific on whether the detainees had been relocated or
not.
The statement titled; “The Transfer of
Boko Haram Detainees to Ekwulobia Prisons: the true position,”
maintained that the governor had not made any official press statement
on the issue as reported in some national dailies.
The statement read in parts, “We wish to
inform the general public that Governor Obiano never made any comments
to these publications. Since the eruption of this controversy, Governor
Obiano’s position has been consistent. This was fully reflected in the
two press Statements issued on Sunday, June 28, 2015 and Wednesday July
1, 2015. In both statements, his message was simple – he re-assured Ndi
Anambra that he was on top of the situation and that he was speaking
with the relevant authorities to achieve a peaceful resolution of the
issue. Governor Obiano’s commitment to this extremely sensitive issue
remains the same.”
The
Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr Uche Eze in his
reaction said the police would not want to comment on the matter as “it
is purely an affair of the Nigerian Prisons Service.”
The member representing the area in the
House of Representatives, Mrs. Eucharia Azodo however urged the Federal
Government to rescind the decision in view of its security implications
on the people of her constituency.
In a statement in Awka on Saturday,
Azodo said the Boko Haram detainees would be better taken care of in a
maximum security prison, arguing that Ekwulobia Prison did not have the
capacity to accommodate such high risk prisoners.
She said, “The rising tension following
rumours that Boko Haram suspects were relocated from some Northern
prisons to the South-East, precisely, Ekwulobia in Aguata Local
Government of Anambra State, gives me great concern.
“We all are aware of the fact that
Ekwulobia Prison in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State is not
a maximum security prison.
“Whereas a large number of prisoners,
about 134 inmates, are there already in a prison built to accommodate 85
inmates, a total number of 47 Boko Haram prisoners were brought to
Ekwulobia Prison in the dead of the night of Sunday, June 28, 2015
amidst tight security.”
The youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-
cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has flayed the Federal
Government over the relocation.
The National President of Ohanaeze Youth
Council, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro who spoke with our correspondent in
Umuahia, described the action as “ exportation of terrorism to the
peaceful South-East region
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