Nigerian Military Release 144 Abia Travelers Out Of 486 Northerners Arrested

One of the suspected sponsors the 486 people travelling in 35 busses to Port Harcourt but arrested in Abia State have been identified by security agents.

Coordinator of the National Information Centre (NIC) Mr. Mike Omeri who made this disclosure at a press briefing on efforts being made to secure the release of abducted Chibok secondary school girls and generally fight the menace of Boko Haram insurgents on Wednesday however, refused to name the sponsor.

Altogether, “144 of the number have been released.  It is expected that the media and the general public will be kept abreast of further developments.  Importantly, one of the suspected connected with the package of the trip has been named and investigation is painstakingly continuing to unravel the issues involved in the incidence.” Omeri stated

He also debunked reports claiming that about 60 women and children were allegedly abducted last weekend.

Findings he said “indicate that there is nothing on the ground to prove any act of abduction as reported.

“It is on record that our findings were also corroborated by the position of the Borno State Government as conveyed by Governor Kashim Shettima, who said that there are no sufficient facts on the alleged abduction of 60 persons.

“We hereby wish to state that based on available facts before us there was no abduction of 60 persons in Borno State”, he declared.

Omeri assured Nigerians that troops have continued to carry out surveillance activities around the areas where the abducted girls are suspected to be held.