- Soldiers block entry/exit routes in Kuje
- NSA, Security Chiefs visit Kuje prison
The Nigeria Correctional Service have confirmed that there was an attack on the Medium Security Custodial, Kuje on Tuesday night.
Premium Times reports that the spokesperson of the agency, Abubakar Umar, confirmed the incident in a statement obtained on Wednesday.
The attack came few hours after the State Security Service (SSS) alerted the authorities of an impending attack on Kuje prison.
While stating that the attack was repelled, the official did not give specific details as to how many prisoners escaped and officers affected.
“I wish to confirm that about 20hrs, some yet to be identified gunmen attacked the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje in the Federal Capital Territory.
“However, men of the Armed Squad of the Nigerian Correctional Service and other security agencies attached to the Custodial centre have responded and calm has been restored to the facility and the situation is under control,” he said.
He said more details will be available soon.
The facility came under attack late Tuesday night apparently to free jailed criminals.
Dangerous criminals, including apprehended Boko Haram terrorists, are held in the prison, which also houses high profile public officers standing trial or already convicted.
Serial attacks
The attack on Kuje Prison is the latest of the series of attacks on correctional facilities in Nigeria.
The attack came less than a year after arsonists invaded the Jos prison and freed many inmates.
At least five prisons have been attacked in the last 18 months across Nigeria. They are those of Jos, Oyo, Kabba, and Owerri.
The Kuje Area Council where the incident took place has been the hotbed of crime and criminalities in the FCT.
There have been abductions in the area believed to be carried out by terrorists, often called bandits, operating in the North-west and parts of the North-central, including the federal capital.
Meanwhile, arising from the terrorist attack at Kuje prison late Tueday night, soldiers manning strategic checkpoints in and out of the city, have presently blocked motorists from leaving and entering the city.
Vanguard reports that passengers were seen alighting from their vehicles trekking back to their homes. A passenger humorously called his wife to “prepare semovita,” for him as there were no movements for the past one hour.
Private vehicle owners and commercial vehicles also made a U-turn back to the city until calm is completely restored.
Areas including the Kuje road leading to the airport road highways was blocked. Also, the exit route from Kuje leading to Gwagwalada have also been blocked.
Aerial patrols by the Defence Ministry have continued non-stop for the past three hours.
According to the report, the National Security Adviser NSA, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Monguno has led a team of security officials on an inspection of the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abuja which was attacked by terrorists on Tuesday night.
Defence, security and intelligence personnel had earlier taken over the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre following Tuesday night’s terrorist attack on the facility.
A complement of personnel of the Nigerian Army, Department of State Services and the armed squad of the Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS had before now provided security at the facility, like most, in the country.
However, following the bomb attack on the facility, there is a heightened security presence in the area.
Premium Times / Vanguard
