Deputy Commissioner of Police Abba Kyari and his men as well as ex-Governor Joshua Dariye of Plateau State and his Taraba State counterpart are safe and in custody, the Nigerian Correctional Service has confirmed.
The authorities confirmed a Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officer and four inmates of the Kuje Custodial Centre were killed after gunmen attacked the facility on Tuesday night.
“We still have other VIPs in our custody,” the Public Relations Officer of the Service, Umar Abubakar disclosed while providing updates on the attacks in a statement.
However, some residents of the facility said they are relocating in view of the incessant attacks on Custodial facilities across the country.
“My brother, the situation has already gotten out of hand. You don’t need to be told. It has been happening for the past two to three years. Imo, Oyo, Plateau and Kogi states. We were shocked that those guys operated as if they knew they would get away with it, “Aliyu Makama, a resident said.
“We were lucky that all of us were already home when the attacks started. What if anyone had ran into them by mistake especially as they came in large numbers around 10.30pm. It would have been terrible. We all lied down inside the house praying quietly,” Makama stated
The NCoS spokesman however said that the presence of over 38 soldiers besides the Police, DSS, Civil Defence, Correctional Service personnel and other security agencies during the attacks saved the situation.
He said said 879 inmates escaped from the facility during the attack while 443 have been recaptured.
“551 inmates are currently in the facility, and 443 are still at large,” Abubakar added.
The statement reads:” 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.
“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 (CIMS) in synergy with National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to track all fleeing inmates and return them to custody.
“This is also to confirms 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.
“Recall that after the attack at the Medium Custodial Centre in Agbolongo, Oyo state, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, met with the heads of the security agencies under his supervision where the idea of Joint Security Taskforce comprising the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigerian Immigration Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps was formed to forstall further breaches on custodial facilities.
“As at the time of the attack on the Kuje facility, we have 38 military personnels on ground in addition to personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, Civil Defence, DSS and our Armed Squad.This is the Minister’s efforts to rejig the security architecture of our facilities.
“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.
“The Controller General of Corrections Haliru Nababa FICMC, mni appreciates the efforts of other security agencies for coming to the rescue of the Service in a timely manner. He calls on the public to volunteer useful information that may lead to the arrest of the fleeing inmates.
“The CG has reassured the public that the unfortunate incident is been handled with every sense of dedication and professionalism. He further extends his condolence to the families of those who lost their lives during the attack and wishes the injured ones a quick recovery.”