It is believed that at least 101 suspected Boko Haram terrorists have been allegedly released from the Kirikiri Medium Security Prison, Lagos State in exchange for the freed 23 Abuja-Kaduna train attack victims.
Sources say that most, if not all, the released terrorists had been in detention without trial for over 12 years and that efforts were being made to release them as it was illegal to continue to hold them without trial. It is however not clear whether the process had been concluded before this development.
“There is an ongoing court process for the inmates to be released because they have been held since 2009 without trial. That process has not been completed to the best of my knowledge for the inmates to be released,” he added.
According to an online platform, Foundation for Investigative Journalism, wardens at the facility let them out as part of a swap deal for the release of travellers who were abducted in Kaduna on March 28.
“They secretly released 101 Boko Haram suspects around 6 am. The negotiations had been ongoing for some months. We used to pray together. During prayers, they spoke Hausa, and they told me they would be going home by October”, the source stated.
The Correctional Service has not officially spoken on the matter whether to confirm or deny the report as at the the time of publishing this story.