55 people died at military detention centre in Maiduguri, says Foundation

The Country Representative of Global Amnesty Watch Foundation, Helen Adesola, has said that 55 people died at the military detention camp in Maiduguri before 593 Boko Haram suspects were cleared and handed over to the Borno State Government for rehabilitation at Bulumkutu Rehabilitation Centre.

Adesola disclosed this yesterday at news conference in Maiduguri on the present conditions of Giwa Barracks military detention facilities.

The Foundation attributed the detention deaths to “heat waves” and not meningitis, as earlier reported in the media.

“Medically, the treatment and prevention for heat waves is the exposure of the detainees to fresh air and proper hydration. This, the centre is doing, as the detainees are being brought out into the open to seat under trees and adequate drinking water is being provided,” she noted, adding that the Foundation findings indicated that everything was in order at the centre, but that there is room for improvement.

“The detention facility, like many other communities dealing with this kind of issues, requires additional intervention to ensure that authorities are able to better cater for sick inmates,” Helen stated, insisting that the state government must wake up to its responsibility regarding the 593 cleared detainees, and must not abandon them, even though they were held on the suspicion of their linkages with Boko Haram.

She said the Nigerian Army, which is responsible for the detainees, was doing all within its power to ensure their wellbeing while in custody.