Kuje attack: 888 inmates escaped from facility – Reps

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

House of Representatives has said 888 inmates, including 64 terror suspects,  escaped from the Kuje Custodial Centre, during the attack on the facility by terrorists on July 5.

Chairman of the House Committee on National Intelligence,  Shaaban Sharada, stated this, yesterday,in Abuja, at the resumed hearing of the jointly organised by all the security committees of the House, on the Kuje prison attack.

Sharada, while expressing displeasure over the absence of service chiefs at the investigative hearing, said it was unfortunate that the terrorists operated for several hours, during the attack on the custodial centre, without any formidable resistance from the security personnel at the facility.

    According to him, “on that fateful day, a total of about 888 inmates including about 64 terror suspects escaped. Of great concern is that, the attack which lasted for several hours did not record any formidable resistance from security personnel deployed to the facility nor there was there adequate response from the security agencies in the federal Capital Territory despite the proximity of the Nigerian Airforce stationed at the International Airport with the scene of the incident.”

   He explained that after the incident, the Joint Committee swung into action with a visit to the Kuje Correctional facility for an on-the-spot assessment. During the visit, the Committee observed the devastating destruction of properties as well as all the key and vulnerable points situated in the Facility. Additionally, officials of the Correctional Centre gave the Team a first-hand brief of the events that took place before, during and after the attack.

“Additionally, investigative hearings have also commenced in earnest with the appearance of the nation’s Intelligence agencies and other paramilitary agencies on Tuesday, 23rd August 2022.

During the hearing, insightful briefs were received from the Directors General of the Department of State Services and the National Intelligence Agency and the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service. Further briefs were given by the Nigerian Civil Defence Corps and the Nigeria Immigration Service. Also in attendance were the representatives of the National Security Adviser and the National Park Service.”