The Nigerian Army, according to reports from The Vanguard has embarked on the building of a detention centre in Borno state to improve management of detainee rebels during investigations.
The Director of Army Public Relations, Brig. Gen. Texas Chukwu disclosed this on Friday in Maiduguri, saying, that the project had become imperative to enhance the management of detained insurgents, in accordance with international best practices.
Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai is said, according to the statement to have been represented by The Chief of Logistics, Army Headquarters, Maj.-Gen. Enobong Udoh at the foundation-laying ceremony of the project.
The Chief of Army Staff in a statement 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 and that the facility would also serve as transit holding and detention centre
for suspected insurgents before handing them over to the relevant prosecution or rehabilitation agencies.
“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 said.
Head of Sub-Delegation of the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC), Mr. Markus Dolder also spoke and commended the project as being an “indication of compliance by the Nigerian Army with global best practices.”
Attendants of the event as listed by The Vanguard include: Maj.-Gen. Abba Dikko, the outgoing Theatre Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, Brig.-Gen. Abdulmalik Biu, the Acting General Officer Commanding, 7 Division, and Brig.-Gen. Ibrahim Salihu, the Commander, Joint Investigation Centre.
Other officials present also at the event are, Others at the event include Mr Inuwa Garba, the Comptroller, Nigeria Prison Service, Borno Command, and Mr Amro Ibrahim, ICRC’s Deputy Head of Sub Delegation in Borno, as well as representatives of the police.
By Wisdom Peter,
