The Muslim Rights Concern on Thursday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for ordering the release of Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Omoyele Sowore, urging him to extend the gesture to the 54 soldiers serving jail term “for allegedly asking for better weapons to fight the Boko Haram insurgency.”
MURIC Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, in a statement appeal to Buhari to exercise his prerogative of mercy by setting the 54 soldiers free. “We express our profound gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for releasing Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) and Omoyele Sowore.
"It shows that our president is listening. If it is true that Dasuki was detained over the $2.1m arms fraud case (and it is), what becomes of the poor soldiers who exposed the fraud but who, paradoxically, are still languishing in jail?
“Nigerians became aware of the poor weaponry among federal troops fighting Boko Haram when the 54 soldiers demanded better arms. They are therefore heroes, not villains and should not be languishing in jail. It was their protest which led to questions regarding the $2.1m meant for the purchase of sophisticated weapons but which was diverted to fund political campaign.
“President Buhari exhibited magnanimity by releasing Dasuki and Sowore. It is true that those two men have people, including the media, crying out day and night for their release unlike the 54 soldiers who have nobody to agitate for them. We beg the president to show mercy to these young men.
‘The quality of mercy is not strained. It dropped as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath" Akintola added.
He said if Dasuki and Sowore’s release was a Christmas gift to Nigerians, releasing the 54 soldiers would be a New Year hamper.