Army Constructs Detention Centre For Boko Haram Terrorists

The Nigerian Army has embarked on the building of a detention centre in Borno to improve management of detainee insurgents during investigations.

The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, said this in a statement on Friday in Maiduguri, Borno state.

Texas Chukwu said that the project had become very important to improve management of detained insurgents, in accordance with international best practices.

The statement said that chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, was represented at the foundation-laying ceremony of the project by the Chief of Logistics, Army Headquarters Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udoh.

Gen.  Buratai said that the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the North-East had necessitated the arrest and detention of suspected insurgents, who must be properly catered for in accordance with international best practices.

“The quest for a functional safe holding facility, with adequate sanitary conditions for effective management of suspected insurgents for further investigation, is the driving force behind the execution of the project.

“To relieve the frontline units of the responsibility of administering arrested suspects, there is the need to have a facility where suspects will be kept and properly managed. “This is the reason why the Joint Investigation Centre was established,’’ he added.

Head of Sub-Delegation of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) Mr Markus Dolder  lauded the project, describing it as “indication of compliance by the Nigerian Army with global best practices”.

Dolder said that the project would strengthen the cooperation between the Army and other stakeholders in the management of suspects under investigation.

“I am very much impressed about the efforts that have been launched over the last few months; they are more than what we actually thought could come, and this is more than what we could potentially dream of,’’ he said.