Kuje Prison attack

By Aminu Muhammad

The Nigerian Police Force’s Kaduna State command has announced the re-arrest of Ali Shuaibu, 60, a suspected prison escapee from Kuje.

According to a statement made by Mohammed Jalige, the command’s public relations officer, Shuaibu, who was on his way to Kano State, was detained.

The Kano State native admitted that he was one of around 800 prisoners that fled the Kuje Correctional Center in Abuja when terrorists raided the prison, according to a police official.

The police statement reads, “Sequel to the Commissioner of Police Kaduna Command’s directive to all tactical commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) to mount purposeful surveillance across all inlets to Kaduna State in response to the recent infamous Kuje Jail break as instructed by the Inspector General of Police, the operatives without prejudice to existing crime prevention measures, responded effectively which has started yielding a positive result with the arrest of a suspected escapee on the 17th July 2022 at about 1930hrs.

“The suspect, one Ali Shuaibu 60yrs of age and an indigene of Kano State, was apprehended by the police operatives at a location in Kaduna, while on transit to Kano based on active intelligence.

“The suspect on preliminary investigation revealed that he is part of the inmates who escaped during the recent attack on the Kuje medium security correctional centre.

“The Commissioner of Police, Kaduna Command, Yekini A. Ayoku, directed that necessary protocols be carried out before handing the suspect over to the Nigerian Correctional Service for proper placement.

“He further tasked officers not to relent in their effort to effectively tackle all forms of crimes and criminality in all critical areas of the state.”

By Muhammad Rabiu Jibrin (Mr J)

The primary responsibility of any government at all levels is the protection of the lives and property of its citizens. But, with the prima facie evidence of security deterioration in this country, one would say, with certainty, that the government has failed woefully in that regard, declaring no one unsafe.

If the convoy of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can be attacked and one of the main correctional centres in its capital raided, causing some of the kingpins of the “Boko Haram” to escape, who and where else do you think is safe? 

The military and paramilitary forces meant to protect the country and its citizens from external and internal threats are paying off with their dear lives due to the lack of proper training, poor personnel and good enough weapons, to mention just a few. Their families, after their departure, live in limbo with little or zero support from the government.

From another angle, the judicial apparatus saddled with the responsibility of punishing the law infringers treads to and fro wearily in an ocean of fear of intimidations from the executive arm of government when discharging its duties. This, for sure, fertilizes the roots of injustice,  shawls the neck of corruption and fans the amber of criminality and lawlessness. Until when Nigeria would be out of this mess?

The 64 escapees of the “Boko Haram” members from Kuje Prison spell doom to the country. God forbids. But the sad truth is, if the escapees return to their camps and reunite with their colleagues, they would be restrengthened. And, there would be a possibility of new forms of attacks here and there, threatening a few months away 2023 general elections. Therefore, government and the general public should be cautioned. 

To abort meeting a bleak future in the store, the government should create an enabling environment by providing means of acquiring a sound education, employment opportunities and financial support to the teeming youths. It should ensure the recruitment of enough security personnel, give them proper training and enough modern weapons and pay their remuneration. Non Governmental Organizations and traditional and religious leaders should chip in, for the insecurity is everyone’s business. May Nigeria prosper.

Muhammad Rabiu Jibrin (Mr J) wrote from Gombe via muhammadrabiujibrin@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Reports coming from Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, have disclosed how suspected gunmen stormed Kuje Prison last night, leading to the escape of no fewer than 900 inmates.

The Daily Reality learned that high-profile Boko Haram and bandits were among the 900 inmates that escaped from the prison.

Our reporters gathered that there had been sounds of explosives and gunshots from the attackers around 10 pm on Tuesday.

The attack which lasted for good two hours claimed the lives of many officials of the correctional facility and dozens of security operatives were seriously injured.

According to a source, “the Kuje prison has been compromised with explosives by the invading terrorists. They stormed the facility around 10.05 pm. They were heavily armed. At least 900 inmates escaped.

“The invaders used dynamites and destroyed the heavily fortified facility, including the Central Terrorism Unit (CTU), freeing all the terrorists there,” the source said.

However, the Nigerian Correctional Service commandant, Umar Abubakar, disclosed in a statement that the armed squad of the service in collaboration with other security agencies responded to the attack.

He said, “I wish to confirm that at about 2200hrs, 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, normalcy has been restored to the facility and the situation is under control.