Terrorists had a free reign during their brazen attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, Rauf Aregbesola the Interior affairs minister has told the House of Representative investigation committee.
He said the 31 military officers who were on guard on July 5 2022 when the terrorists struck, were disarmed by the invaders who were in no hurry to leave the facility. Aregbesola admitted that there was total breach of security.
He narrated at the hearing: “On the night of the attack, Kuje accommodated 994 inmates out of which 64 were terror suspects, Boko Haram, ISWAP, and others. No fewer than 888 inmates escaped during the attack, among them were 554 awaiting trial persons. 71 were convicts, 36 were on death row and 17 were on life imprisonment and 106 refused to leave the facility during the attack. About 28 inmates who left the facility, voluntarily returned between the 6th and 15th of July.
“In that facility on that day of the invasion were 31 military personnel of the Nigerian army, five personnel of MOPOL 21, five personal of MOPOL 50, two personnel of counter-terrorism unit of the Nigeria police, two personnel of Kuje police division, seven personnel of Nigeria Immigration Service, three personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), 10 personnel of correction armed square.
“These 65 people were there for the specific responsibility of assisting and preventing any attack and they were all armed.
“These 65 people were posted to protect the prison from any attack and they were all armed. Because of the presence of the press, I will not mention the specific arsenal at their disposal.
