100 children rescued from concentration camp

The camp is being operated by a suspect whose names are being withheld, in Gurin town in Fofure Local Government Area of Adamawa.

Bello-Tukur told newsmen in Yola that the children,, aged between nine and 16 years were detained in chains.

She said some of the children were from Hong, Fofure, Yola South, Yola North, Song and Gerei Local Government Areas as well as Borno State and the Cameroon.

The commissioner who witnessed the parade of the suspect and the rescued children by the police, said the ministry officials recieved information that the children were secluded from members of the public for more than six years.

She said a father of one of the victims had approached the suspect to release his son from the camp but he demanded N15,000 to effect the boy’s release.

The suspect in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the boys were drug addicts and hardened criminals who were brought to the camp for spiritual healing and discipline by their parents.

He, however, expressed regret for his action, but claimed that he had healed more than 100 of such children of various ailments.

The suspect also confirmed that the children were in chains for 24 hours and were never allowed to go outside the camp and that they were taught to recite of the Quran.

Efforts made by NAN to speak with any of the parents were unsuccessful as the suspect could not remember the name of any of the children’s parent.