AFRICA

PRISON BREAK: INSURGENTS ATTACK NIGERIAN PRISON, OVER 800 INMATES ESCAPE

PRISON BREAK: INSURGENTS ATTACK NIGERIAN PRISON, OVER 800 INMATES ESCAPE
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Ekeomah Atuonwu

Late on Tuesday night, there was a terrifying attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja the capital city of Nigeria.

The insurgents stormed the facility at about 10:00 p.m., detonating explosives and opening live rounds on state agents guarding the facility, according to a senior government official.

“Suspected Boko Haram attackers have just seized the prisons from our control,” an official said to journalists. 

The official could not immediately elaborate on the unfolding chaos at the prison, which holds suspects ranging from disgraced police chief Abba Kyari to infamous terror masterminds.

The attack comes as insecurity inundates President Muhammadu Buhari and his security chiefs. Earlier on Tuesday, the administration confirmed an attack on the president’s convoy in his home Katsina state.

The assault which involved the use of explosives and guns, left many within the area perplexed and scared.

A picture showing the remains of the Kuje prison attack /CTV/

As at the early hours on Wednesday, it was still not clear what had transpired, however, the authorities and witnesses have been dishing out information regarding the attack which again has left many Nigerians questioning what really is going on in the country.

WHAT WE KNOW SO FAR

Having continued to diligently follow the breaking story and emerging new developments, we bring you seven major things which we have learnt so far.

1. Five killed

Speaking on the incident, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) said a total of five persons were killed in the course of the attack. Chief Superintendent of Corrections, Umar Abubakar, disclosed in a statement on Wednesday that three inmates died in the chaos while the gunmen killed a personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

2. 19 persons injured

As regards the number of those injured, Mr Abubakar said 16 inmates sustained various degree of injuries while, 3 NSCDC operatives also got seriously injured.

According to him, all are currently being treated.

3. Over 800 inmates escaped

Mr Abubakar also revealed that no less than 800 inmates escaped during the assault which saw vehicles burnt and parts of the facility destroyed.

He said a total of 879 inmates escaped from the facility, adding that “443 of the escapees have been recaptured while 551 inmates are currently in custody, and 443 inmates are still at large,” however, these figures do not seem to add up, especially in the light of the fact that the facility is said to have held only 994 inmates prior to the attack.

4. All 64 Boko Haram members in the facility, escaped

Following his own assessment of the incident, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, disclosed that all 64 Boko Haram Terrorists who were in custody of the correctional centre, fled the facility.

5. DCP Abba Kyari and other VIPs are safe

Contrary to reports suggesting that DCP Abba Kyari had escaped during the attack, the NCoS said the embattled police officer and other VIPs are hail and hearty and remain in their custody.

6. Explosives were used in the assault 

In its statement, the NCoS revealed 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, it was in this attempt that a security personnel was killed.

7. Boko Haram suspected to be the orchestrators 

With the number of Boko Haram terrorists who escaped from the Kuje Prison during the attack on Tuesday night, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, said there are strong indications that it was the terrorists that invaded the facility to free their members being held in detention.

As at the time of filing this report, the insurgents had not claimed the attack as theirs, however, authorities say a full scale search is ongoing to recapture all those who have escaped.

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Ekeomah Atuonwu

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