277 soldiers rot in Jos detention

More than 277 soldiers arrested in the last six months in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, for various offences in the fight against Boko Haram sect are reportedly being detained in dehumanizing conditions without trial at the Maxwell Khobe cantonment, Rukuba Barracks detention facility of the 3rd Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army in Jos, Plateau State.

Some of the soldiers, who are being detained by the Military Police in the barracks, according to Punch reports had yet to know the offence for which they were arrested, which, as a result, has made it difficult for the authorities to prefer charges on them.

A relation of one of the detained soldiers, who gave his name as Yakubu, said that his brother, a sergeant, had been in detention for six months with his family unable to see him.

He said, “In fact, since he was detained, no charges have been pressed on him and it is not certain when he will be released. The Army authorities have also denied him access to his family.”

In his reaction, the Director of Army Public Relations, Maj.-Gen. Chris Olukolade, who responded to an email sent to him, said administratively, only the Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Texas Chukwu, could respond to the report.

He said, “Thanks, This is administrative please. Kindly speak to Army Public Relations. Cheers.”

Efforts made to contact Chukwu were not fruitful. He did not pick repeated calls made to his telephone.

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