Nigeria to free ‘terrorism’ suspects, all women in peace gesture to Boko Haram

The Nigerian Defense Headquarters issued a statement on Tuesday, saying Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan had instructed them to release a number of detainees and "all women under custody."
 
"Consequent upon the directives of the president… the Defense Headquarters will be releasing from detention a number of persons being held in connection with terrorist activities," the statement read.
 
    "The measure, which is in line with presidential magnanimity to enhance peace efforts in the country, will result in freedom for suspects including all women under custody," it added.
 
 
Meanwhile, late on Monday, Nigeria asked its northern neighbor Niger for help in the campaign against the militants.
 
"As you know, there are operations in progress in Nigeria in three states very affected by the problem of terrorism, and we are hoping to have support from the Republic of Niger in the battle to defeat these terrorists," Nigerian Foreign Minister Nurudeen Muhammed said in Niger after talks with Nigerien President Mahamadou Issoufou on Tuesday.
 
Muhammed did not elaborate on what sort of help Nigeria is seeking.
 
Also on Tuesday, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross' regional delegation for Niger and Mali said at least 2,400 people had fled violence in northern Nigeria and were being provided with emergency supplies in Diffa in the southeast of Niger.
 
"These people, most of whom are originally from Niger but settled in Nigeria some time back, in some cases decades ago, are completely destitute," Jean-Nicolas Marti stated.
 
On May 16, the Nigerian army launched a large-scale military campaign against militants in border areas.
 
On May 14, Jonathan declared a state of emergency in the three northeastern states of Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa.
 
Boko Haram has claimed responsibility for a number of deadly gun and bomb attacks in various parts of Nigeria since 2009.
 
Over the past four years, violence in the north of Africa’s most populous country has claimed the lives of 3,600 people, including killings by the security forces.