Nigeria force says has freed 58

Nigeria’s military and security force have said they have released 58 women and children held as suspects connected to Boko Haram militants fighting in the north of the country.

On Friday, authorities said they released the women and children in Adamawa and Borno states. These sates are two of the three states– Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa- in which President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency on May 14.

Previously, on Tuesday, the Nigerian Defense Headquarters issued a statement, 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.

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.

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.