Published 6th Jul, 2022

By Opeyemi Lawal

Bashir Magashi, Nigeria’s Minister of Defence, has said that none of the Boko Haram suspects and bandits detained in Kuje Prison, Abuja, were found after the prison invasion that happened on Tuesday night.

The minister revealed this while addressing press men after taking an assessment tour of the facility on Wednesday.

The minister said the prison was attacked late in the evening after gunmen in large numbers gained entrance to the prison facilities.

“The attack started around 10:30pm. They came in their numbers, gained entrance into the prison and they released some of the inmates, and we are now following to see the kind of inmates that they have released.

“Very soon, we will give you the correct figure of the inmates that were taken. Aside that, we are trying to see what we can do to ensure that all escapees are returned back.

“The prison is accommodating about 994 inmates and over 600 escaped. Many people have been recaptured and brought back to the prison. Maybe by the close of the day, more will have been captured and returned.

“I think everything is under control. The people who came to do this activity, from the records, we believe they belong to a particular group. Most likely, they are Boko Haram members because we have sizeable number of Boko Haram suspects in detention, and presently we cannot locate any of them

“I think they are about 64 in the prison and none of them now is available. They have all escaped,” the minister said.

Suspected Boko Haram terrorists attacked Kuje Correctional Center on Tuesday night. No less than 600 inmates were freed, while six inmates and one security officer died.

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