Monday, August 28, 2023
The Witness Newspaper
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • The Nation
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Investigation
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • South Witness
  • World
  • Health
The Witness Newspaper
No Result
View All Result
Home The Nation

Kuje prison attack: 65 armed operatives were on guard, but were overpowered – Aregbesola

Stanley Osariemen by Stanley Osariemen
September 6, 2022
in The Nation
Kuje prison attack: 400 inmates still on the run - Report

Kuje prison

Share on FacebookShare On WhatsappShare On Twitter

Rauf Aregbesola, Nigeria’s minister of interior has disclosed that 65 security operatives were on guard at the correctional facility in Kuje, Abuja when it was attacked by terrorists.

The minister disclosed this on Monday when he appeared before the house of representatives committees on national security and interior.

READ ALSO

Samuel Meyiwa Khalil hails Delta gov for nominating Wilkie, Uduaghan for commissioners

H1′ 2023: NPA generates N191.4bn revenue, remits N55.7bn, projects N500bn revenue by year end

THE WITNESS had reported that on July 5, 2022, terrorists attacked the Kuje prison facility and freed hundreds of inmates, including suspected Boko Haram terrorists.

Aregbesola told the lawmakers that “well-armed” security operatives were attached to the correctional centre to prevent an attack on the facility.

He said, “In that facility on that day of the invasion were 31 military personnel of the Nigerian Army, five personnel of MOPOL 21, five personnel of MOPOL 50, two personnel of counter-terrorism unit of the Nigeria Police Force, two personnel of Kuje police division, seven personnel of Nigeria Immigration Service, three personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and 10 personnel of the [NCoS] armed squad.

“These 65 people were there for the specific responsibility of assisting and preventing any attack and they were all armed.

“Because of the presence of the press here, I will not tell you the great arsenal in their possession but they were well-armed. If we have an exclusive arrangement, I’ll give you the specifics of the great equipment of the military arsenal that was positioned for the defence of the facility.

“However, despite everything, our arrangement for protection of Kuje failed and the facility was breached.”

The minister said 994 inmates, out of which 64 were terror suspects — Boko Haram, ISWAP and others — were in the facility on the day of the attack

He said 888 inmates escaped during the attack — including 554 persons awaiting trial, 71 convicts, 36 on death row, and 17 on life imprisonment.

According to the minister, 106 inmates refused to leave the facility during the attack, while 28 inmates who left the facility voluntarily returned between July 6 and July 15.

After the minister’s presentation, the committee went into a closed-door meeting.

At the investigative hearing, security chiefs invited were absent, while some were represented.

The service chiefs invited included the national security adviser, inspector-general of police, minister of police affairs, chief of army staff, chief of naval staff, and chief of air staff.

Sha’aban Sharada, chairman of the house committee on intelligence, said the lawmakers will invoke their constitutional powers if the security chiefs fail to honour their invitation.

Speaking on the attack in Kuje, the lawmaker said the facility was invaded without “formidable” pushback from security operatives.

“Of grave concern is that the attack, which lasted for several hours, did not record any formidable resistance from the security personnel deployed to the facility, nor was there an adequate response from the security agencies in the FCT, despite the proximity of the Nigerian Air Force station at the international airport to the scene of incident,” he said.

The lawmaker described the attack as “very disturbing and embarrassing”, adding that it raises serious concerns about the effectiveness of the security architecture in the country.

Tags: Kuje Prison AttackRauf AregbesolaSha’aban Sharada

Related Posts

Samuel Meyiwa Khalil hails Delta gov for nominating Wilkie, Uduaghan for commissioners
The Nation

Samuel Meyiwa Khalil hails Delta gov for nominating Wilkie, Uduaghan for commissioners

July 19, 2023
H1' 2023: NPA generates N191.4bn revenue, remits N55.7bn, projects N500bn revenue by year end
The Nation

H1′ 2023: NPA generates N191.4bn revenue, remits N55.7bn, projects N500bn revenue by year end

July 19, 2023
Int'l NGO, Marie Stopes Nigeria, in alleged money laundering scandal - Report
Investigation

Int’l NGO, Marie Stopes Nigeria, in alleged money laundering scandal – Report

July 17, 2023
Lawyers ask TETFUND ES, Sonny Echono, to quit over alleged corruption
Investigation

Lawyers ask TETFUND ES, Sonny Echono, to quit over alleged corruption

July 17, 2023
Customers outraged, frustrated as GTBank Mobile app shuts down
The Nation

Customers outraged, frustrated as GTBank Mobile app shuts down

July 16, 2023
Children of Akwa Ibom ex-governor battle stepmother in court over property
The Nation

Children of Akwa Ibom ex-governor battle stepmother in court over property

July 10, 2023
Next Post
Lies and blackmail can't fix Nigeria, Kukah hits back at Buhari

Nigeria's Irresponsible leaders using religion as tool for oppression - Kukah

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

 

Categories

  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • Inside Nigeria
  • Investigation
  • Lifestyle
  • Opinion
  • Politics
  • Profiles
  • Southern Witness
  • Sports
  • The Nation
  • The News
  • World

Recent Posts

  • Still in pursuit of symptoms of the malaise, By Elliot Uko
  • ODA President clears air on Okun leaders’ visit to Tinubu, says it wasn’t to promote any candidate
  • H1’23: Applause as FBN Holdings grows pre-tax profit to N206.2bn
  • Avanti Communications cements market-leading position in sub-Saharan Africa
  • NOVA Merchant Bank shareholders okay bank’s plan for full commercial banking operations
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2022 The Witness Newspaper | All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • The Nation
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Investigation
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • Entertainment
  • South Witness
  • World
  • Health

Copyright © 2022 The Witness Newspaper | All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.