The federal government has directed that full investigation be carried out over the Tuesday’s night attack on the Kuje Maximum Prison facility where all the Boko Haram terrorists and other high profile criminals escaped.
The government directed that the investigation be briefed, also declared that “If any complicity is established, that appropriate actions would be taken.”
The terrorists attack led to death of four inmates and one NSCDC officer.
Spokeman of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Umar Abubakar, confirmed Wednesday that 443 of inmates who escaped after the attack were recaptured, bringing the total number of inmates in the facility to 578.
In a statement released Thursday in Abuja, Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, revealed that security personnel have already combed the whole area, up to a distance of 100 kilometres radius, looking for the escapees.
He also said all checkpoints nationwide have been put on alert, more than 400 of them have been brought in and more are still coming.
The statement signed by Aregbesola’s media adviser, Sola Fasure, said the minister pledged to continue to strengthen all correctional facilities and keep Nigerians safe at all times.
The statement said: “We are working with the Ministry of Defence and the Office of the National Security Adviser as well as other intelligence and security agencies to ensure that the attackers and the escaped inmates are captured and returned to custody.
As we speak, security personnel are combing the whole area, up to a distance of 100 kilometres radius, looking for them. All checkpoints nationwide have been put on alert. More than 400 of them have been brought in and more are still coming.
“We appeal to all residents to be calm but vigilant. Security is a collective work between government and the citizens. Kindly therefore report all suspicious individuals and activities to the nearest security agency around you. We appeal also to doctors and medical workers to treat and then immediately report anyone with gunshot wounds to the law enforcement agency.
“The minister has directed that all correctional facilities in the country be fortified; that all personnel be vigilant and alert, to avoid recurrence.
“The Minister has directed that full investigation into the incident be carried out and should be briefed as soon as possible.
“If any complicity is established, the Minister has promised that appropriate actions would be taken.”
While explaining what went wrong, Aregbesola said: “The security officers on duty fiercely engaged them and inflicted a heavy casualty on them. Regrettably, given their unprecedented number, they overpowered the officers on duty. One of the security personnel that engaged the attackers was unfortunately killed. May his soul rest in peace. Calm and normalcy have since been returned to the Centre.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that the Boko Haram sect may have been responsible for the attack. The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), in conjunction with other security agencies, are working to bring back in the escaped inmates.”
