A very reliable source
confirmed that the detainees have left the state to the delight of the people
residing near the Ekwulobia Prisons.
The people of Ekwulobia in
Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State can now heave a sigh of relief
following the removal of the 47 suspected members of Boko Haram brought into
the medium security prison located in the town June this year.
They were removed on
Tuesday night to an unknown destination amidst tight security.
It could not be ascertained
yesterday where they were taken but according to our source, ‘definitely they have
been taken out of Anambra State.’
There were about 134
inmates at the Ekwulobia prison before the 47 Boko Haram prisoners were brought
in the dead of the night of Sunday, June 28, 2015 amidst tight security.
It would be recalled that
protests by traders in all the major towns in Anambra State trailed the
presence of the Boko Haram suspects soon after they were brought into the
state, although calm eventually returned.
A visit to Ekwulobia Prison
yesterday showed that the heavy security
that was mounted shortly after the suspects were brought to the
town has relaxed, as the snipers that
usually sat atop a structure at the
prison were not seen on their duty post. The gate of the prison was also open,
unlike what the situation had been for the past three months.
However, people living
around the prison said they did not know that the Boko Haram prisoners had been
removed from Ekwulobia, although they said they would be happy if it was true.
Reacting to the
development, president of Ohaneze chairmen for the South East and South –South,
Dr. Chris Eluemunor said the removal of the Boko Haram detainees from Ekwulobia
Prison in Anambra State is a welcome development.
He said: “We are happy to
hear this. I thank Governor Willie Obiano who insisted from the day they were
brought that they must leave the state. I went to the governor and told him
that I would allow him only one month to ensure that they leave the state,
otherwise Ohaneze would do something the country would not like. Since this has
been done, I sincerely thank the governor.”
In her reaction, the member
representing Aguata Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Mrs.
Eucharia Azodo in whose constituency the Ekwulobia Prison is located, commended
the Federal Government for heeding to the cry of her constituents by eventually
relocating the suspected Hoko Haram detainees.
In a telephone interview,
Azodo who was the former speaker of the state House of Assembly, recalled how
she moved a motion in July this year, calling for the removal of the detainees
from her constituency in view of the fear it injected in the people.
She said: “I thank the
federal government for heeding to the cry of my people. I thank all those in
charge for having listening ears.
Vanguard
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