In a statement on Wednesday, Nigeria Prisons National Public Relations Officer (Service spokesperson), Umar Abubakar, said the terrorists who attacked Kuje prison facility, used explosives on the center’s fence and its main entrance to gain access to the facility.
One Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel and four inmates have been confirmed dead during the attack on the Kuje custodial center.
Boko Haram terrorists had attacked the center and freed inmates including 64 of their members held in the custody in the attack that lasted hours on Tuesday night.
The statement read: “In furtherance to my earlier press release on the unfortunate attack by gunmen suspected to be terrorists, I wish to state that the attackers broke into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje using explosive devices through the main entrance and the fence of the facility respectively, killing a personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the Custodial Centre and living three (3) personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service seriously injured.”
He added that a total of 16 inmates and three custodial officers were injured during the attack.
Umar, however, said 879 inmates escaped from the facility while 551 inmates are currently in custody, and 443 are still at large.
He said the service would collaborate with the National Identity Management Commission to track all the fleeing inmates.
Umar added “A total of 879 inmates escaped from the facility during the unfortunate attack. As at the time of this report, 443 have been recaptured, 551 inmates are currently in custody, 443 inmates are still at large, 4 inmates dead and 16 inmates sustained various degree of injuries and are being treated at the moment. However, efforts are ongoing to recapture all fleeing inmates.
“The Service will deploy its Corrections Information Management System in synergy with National Identity Management Commission to track all fleeing inmates and return them to custody.”
He also dismissed claims that DCP Abba Kyari escaped from the center during the attack.
Umaru said, “This is also to confirm to the general public that DCP Abba Kyari and other VIPs held in the facility did not escape. They are presently in custody, hale and hearty.
“The public is also informed that some of the attackers were killed while some escaped with gunshot wounds. We, therefore, appeal to hospitals and other medical institutions and practitioners to report anyone that comes to them for treatment for gunshot injuries to the nearest law enforcement agency.”
But looking at the figures of escaped inmates, those recaptured and those still at large as given above by simple arithmetic, they do not add up!