The Nigerian Army has released 128 detainees who have been cleared by the joint intelligent corps, after certifying that they had no link with the Boko Haram terrorists group.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. General Tukur Buratai, who handed over the detainees to Gov. Kashim Shettima of Borno State, said that they were arrested at different parts of the state by the military in its anti-terrorism campaign.

Buratai said that after thorough screening by a team of military intelligence officers, the police and the Department of State Security Service (DSS), the suspects were found to be clean and were thus released.

He said: “The task of Operation Lafiya Dole can be seen in three terms – to defeat the insurgents, to facilitate humanitarian activities and observe human rights and restore the administrative functions in the liberated area.”

In a related development, Buratai has led Nigerian troops on field inspection of the recaptured strategic town of Gamboru Ngala, crossing a bridge to Fatokol where a huge crowd of Nigerians received them with cheers and emotional tears.

The level of devastation of the Gamboru Ngala was very pathetic as most infrastructures and monuments including vehicles, shops and street lights had been destroyed by Boko Haram terrorists while the town was under their control.

The Army Chief assured the crowd that with the support of President Muhammadu Buhari, supply of new equipment and deployment of well-trained troops, the Boko Haram atrocities would soon come to an end.

•Adapted from a PR Nigeria report. Photo shows Gen. Burutai.