BY NDAHI MARAMA, MAIDUGURI

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 on Friday, at news conference held at Barwee Luxury Suites in Maiduguri on the present conditions of Giwa Barracks military detention facilities.

The Foundation attributed the  deaths to “heat waves” and not meningitis as earlier reported in the media. Her words: “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.”

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She said that the findings of Global Amnesty Watch Foundation indicated that everything was in order at the detention centre, noting however that there was 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,” noted Helen.

She insisted that the Borno state government must wake up to its responsibility, as 593 cleared detainees are citizens and residents of the state.

“The Borno state government must not abandon them even though they were being held on the suspicion of their linkages with Boko Haram terror group,” she said.