BARELY 48 hours after Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State denied
involvement in the controversial transfer of an unspecified number of
Boko Haram prisoners to the state, a South East Senator, Chief Mao
Ohuabunwa, has said that the matter would be formally raised at the
Senate for investigation when it resumes from its recess.
Briefing reporters in Abuja yesterday Ohuabunwa, of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP), representing Abia North Senatorial District,
said that the South East caucus in the upper legislative chamber would
meet to first consider the matter before bringing it to the floor of
the Senate.
The former Deputy Majority Leader of the House of Representatives
said he will, as a matter of urgent public importance, raise the issue
of the sudden transfer of such high-profile terrorists to a local prison
in Anambra State when the lawmakers resume sitting.
The Nigeria Prison Service had reportedly transferred Boko Haram
prisoners to Ekwulobia prison in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra
State.
Governor Obiano had claimed that the transfer of the Boko Haram
prisoners was perfected in 2012 under Governor Peter Obi, and that the
transfer would have been carried out immediately but for the general
election in 2015.
Ohuabunwa, however, insisted there is no justifiable reason for the
transfer of Boko Haram prisoners from far away North where they were
arrested to a local prison, saying the presence of the inmates would
create tension and fear of the unknown in the area.
He stressed that the transfer of the inmates, if true, should be
reversed without further delay. According to him, such prisoners should
be confined to the states where they committed crimes or other states in
the North that have maximum prisons.
The Senator argued that it is a security risk to send such prisoners
to a local facility in a place with porous security. He said no amount
of explanation could justify the transfer, and vowed to mobilise other
senators to push for an immediate reversal of the decision.
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