The Presidency today explained its directive concerning the release of persons being held in connection with the Boko Haram sect, the first batch of which it stressed would be women and children.

“This will be followed by other phased releases where cases will be treated on their individual merits by the Defence authorities and security agencies,” according to Doyin Okupe, Special Adviser to the President on Public Affairs, who said the clarification became necessary owing to “misrepresentations” by sections of the media.

“The presidential directive was as a result of the interim report by the Presidential Committee on dialogue and peace in Northern Nigeria which recommended the measure as part of government’s multi-faceted strategy to solving the security challenges posed by the activities of the sect.”

He described the directive as proof that the Federal Government has not foreclosed dialogue as a viable option in its bid to put an end to insurgency and terrorist activities in the Northern part of the country.

“It is expected that this phased release of detainees will encourage those who wish to embrace the peace option to come out and take advantage of the dialogue and peace option provided by the Committee put in place by government,” the statement said.