At least 1,009 ex-Boko Haram terrorists have been released to the government of Borno state.

The ex-terrorists were among those who killed innocent Nigerians.

They were released on Wednesday, July 14. The ex-terrorists had been in military custody at Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

The former terrorists were handed over to the Borno State Government in a secret ceremony that was initially billed to take place at an earlier date but was suspended indefinitely by the military authorities at the wake of the appointment of the new COAS, Punch reports.

Sources in the army told the publication that the ex-terrorists were handed over to the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, who represented the state government at the event.

The officer said, according to Punch, “The army handed 1,009 Boko Haram insurgents to the state government today (Wednesday). It was done in secret. We were warned not to allow journalists to the venue.”