The Nigerian military has reportedly transferred over 100 suspected Boko Haram members from Maiduguri, Borno State, to unknown locations in the country.

The Nigerian military has reportedly transferred over 100 suspected Boko Haram members from Maiduguri, Borno State, to unknown locations in the country.

This is coming against the backdrop of recent developments where economic activities were paralysed in Anambra State following unconfirmed reports that the federal government was planning to relocate Boko Haram detainees still awaiting trial in various parts of the North-east to the state.

However, the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has come out to deny this report.

However, Thisday says it was informed of the transfer last week by a source who claimed that the Boko Haram suspects who were captured during the recent offensive against their hideouts in Sambisa forest and other locations were transferred in two batches.

According to Thisday, the source said the first batch of over 50 Boko Haram Prisoners of War (PoW) were lifted out of Maiduguri Airport to an unknown location on June 21, 2015, while the second batch of over 50 were also transferred on the June 24 by the C-130 military transport plane.

The source said, “A C130 aircraft came and lifted over 50 Boko Haram captured fighter to Abuja or where we don’t know probably to show President Muhammadu Buhari their efforts.

“We don’t know the reason why that was done. We don’t know whether our big men (military authorities) want to show the president how serious we have been in the fight against the Boko Haram boys. To me this was a waste of aviation fuel and other logistics. In fact, we don’t know.

“These Boko Haram boys were all captured from the bush (Sambisa forest). They did not have a hold anywhere any longer but were just running in the bush with or without riffles because they did not have anything to eat or drink again. They were so tired and battle-weary that it was easy to capture them alive. And normally, the Kainji Air Force Base, Maiduguri, is where these kind of terrorists were kept. So for now we don’t know why we are hearing from some airmen that the C130 was heading to Abuja.”

The source added that “a second batch went four days after but where they are carrying them to was still what we are to ascertain.

“Because initially, the Kainji Air Force base underground is where suspected Boko Haram insurgents used to be kept whenever they were captured from Maiduguri.”

The Director of Defence Information Maj-Gen. Chris Olukolade was not available for comments.