Four prisoners and one member of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps have been confirmed dead as a result of the attack on the Kuje detention facility.
Terrorists from Boko Haram raided the facility on Tuesday night for several hours, freeing a number of prisoners, including 64 of their own members who had been detained.
The Service’s spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, said in a statement on Wednesday that the terrorists breached the center’s main entrance and fence using explosives.
It read, “In furtherance to my earlier press release on the unfortunate attack by gunmen suspected to be terrorists, I wish to state that the attackers broke into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje using explosive devices through the main entrance and the fence of the facility respectively, killing a personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the Custodial Centre and living three (3) personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service seriously injured.”
He also said that three custodial officials and 16 prisoners were hurt in the incident.
However, according to Umar, 879 prisoners left the jail while 443 were apprehended and 551 remained at large.
He claimed that in order to find all the evading prisoners, the service would work with the National Identity Management Commission.
Umaru added “A total of 879 inmates escaped from the facility during the unfortunate attack. As at the time of this report, 443 have been recaptured, 551 inmates are currently in custody, 443 inmates are still at large, 4 inmates dead and 16 inmates sustained various degree of injuries and are being treated at the moment. However, efforts are ongoing to recapture all fleeing inmates.
“The Service will deploy its Corrections Information Management System in synergy with National Identity Management Commission to track all fleeing inmates and return them to custody.”
Additionally, he denied assertions that DCP Abba Kyari fled the facility during the incident.
Umaru said, “This is also to confirm to the general public that DCP Abba Kyari and other VIPs held in the facility did not escape. They are presently in custody, hale and hearty.
“The public is also informed that some of the attackers were killed while some escaped with gunshot wounds. We, therefore, appeal to hospitals and other medical institutions and practitioners to report anyone that comes to them for treatment for gunshot injuries to the nearest law enforcement agency.”
