From Victor Osula, Abuja
Suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police awaiting trial at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, in the Federal Capital Territory and ex-pension boss Abdulrashid Maina who is serving jail term at the centre were not among over 600 inmate who fled the facility on Monday following gunman attack.
Investigation shows that some other high profile inmates stayed back, confirming reports that the attackers planned their attack to achieve the objective of setting their men free.
Meanwhile, Umar Abubakar, Chief Superintendent of Corrections. Public Relations officer said in an update on Wednesday that 433 out of the 600n escapees have been recaptured, bringing the total number of inmates in the facility to 578. The facility accommodates 900 inmates.
He said the Controller-General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa has ordered immediate deployment of the e-Corrections Information Management System (e-CIMS) to track all fleeing inmates and return them to custody.
He said: “recall that in the wake of the attack on Abolongo Custodial Centre in Oyo State, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola met with the security Chiefs in the ministry to draw up a joint security framework for the protection of Custodial Centres against further breaches. This is in addition to expanding the frontiers of collaboration to other agencies to fortify the facilities. Hence, at the time of the attack, personnel from the military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Police Force, State Security Service were on ground to support men of the Armed Squad unit of the Nigerian Correctional Service.”
He disclosed that during the gun battle, a personnel of the NSCDC unfortunately lost his life and three (3) officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service also sustained bullet injuries. Four (4) inmates lost their lives while 16 others sustained various degree of injuries.
“While appealing for prompt supply of credible information to re-arrest the fleeing inmates, the Controller General assures the public that the biometrics of all the inmates are intact and will be used to track them wherever they hide, he said, adding that, he expressed his appreciation to men of other security agencies for their support and gallantry even as he extends his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wishes the injured a quick recovery.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi has disclosed that all the Boko Haram suspects in detention at the Kuje prison escaped and are yet to be found
The minister who spoke to journalist after he paid a visit to the prison, said, “The attack started around 10:30pm. They came in their numbers gained entrance into the prison and they released some of the inmates and which we are now following to see the kind of inmates that they have released.
“Very soon, we will give you the correct figure of the inmates that were taken. Aside that, we are trying to see what we can do to ensure that all escapees are returned back.
“The prison is accommodating about 994 inmates and over 600 escaped. Many people have been recaptured and brought back to the prison. Maybe by the close of the day, more will have been captured and returned.
“I think everything is under control. The people who came to do this activity, from the records, we believe they belong to a particular group. Most likely, they are Boko Haram members because we have sizeable number of Boko Haram suspects in detention, and presently we cannot locate any of them.
“I think they are about 64 in the prison and none of them now is available they have all escaped.”
