Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed that over 500 inmates escaped from Kuje Prison in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Gatekeepers News reports that Shuaib Belgore, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the facility in Abuja.
Gunmen had attacked the prison with explosives on Tuesday night.
Belgore while blaming Boko Haram for the attack, said the assailants came to the prison “very prepared” with explosives.
He said about 600 inmates escaped, but that security operatives have retaken 300 so far, and that effort is in progress to recapture others at large.
The Permanent Secretary said, “There have been several attacks on our facilities most of them are being repelled, but every now, and then there is one that they have succeeded. In this is one they came very determined with high explosives.
“The initial entry attempt was unsuccessful then they attack another section of the wall with higher-grade explosives which brought the wall down. The forces on the ground did everything they could to repel them, but the number they came with was high which they were not able to defend against.
“They kept on fighting gallantly unfortunately the breach happened. Reinforcement came when they were halfway through it. They were eventually repelled. At the time they came in they killed one NSCDC personnel while trying to save the situation.
“The inmates here are 994. We understand they are Boko Haram terrorists and came specifically came for their conspirators. Many of them are returned, some were retrieved from the bushes they were hiding right we have retrieved about 300 out of about 600 that got out of the jail.”
He noted that the number of the assailants killed is yet to be ascertained.
Belgore added that one security operative was killed while three others were wounded and are receiving treatment.
