Kuje Prison Break : Reps Summon Minister of Interior

The House of Representatives, has summoned the Minister of Interior, Mr Rauf Aregbesola and the Controller General of Nigeria Correctional Services, Mr Haliru Nababa, over the recent attack on the Kuje Custodial Centre, by suspected terrorists.

The chairman of the house Committee on Correctional services, Mr Anayo Edwin, issued the summon, during an oversight visit to the Kuje Custodial Centre, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Mr Edwin said the spate of attacks on Custodial Centres across the country must be stopped.

According to him, the CG, as well as the commander of the Army platoon on duty on the night of the attack would have to appear before the committee to explain the circumstances surrounding the attack.

The lawmaker stated that it is worrisome that in recent times about 12 Custodial Centres, across the country, have been attacked by gunmen with inmates released.

Edwin said :”This committee, we are summoning the CG and the minister in charge of this agency to come to the National Assembly and explain to the whole world, and Nigerians what is going on. We are not comfortable with the incidences of jailbreaks in recent times. There have been about 10 to 12 attacks on custodial centers. Nigerians are not comfortable. In Abuja, nobody walks freely now because of this incident.

“We have to interact( with the authorities) and know the problem and how we can solve them. We have to know your challenges and how to tackle them. The committee is eager to know what transpired here. The reaction of the security agencies.

The Controller Nigeria Correctional Services, FCT Command Ahmadu Musa,while briefing the lawmakers on the attack, explained that there were 994 inmates on the night of the attack.

Ahmadu stated that contrary to speculation that the military personnel stationed at the holding facility were withdrawn prior to the attack, they were actually on ground at the custodial center, the day the attack occurred.

” I cannot answer for the Army. One thing I know is that we have a platoon of soldiers, consisting of 30 men and one officer. And they were all here that day. As you are coming, you see their base there. They stay here permanently for good one month, before they are changed,” he stated in response to questions on whether or not the Armoured Personnel Carrier stationed in the Custodial centre is functional.

He explained that so far 421 have been recaptured, while 454 are still at large.