Hundreds of inmates escape from Abuja prison after terrorist attack
By Wilson Musa
CNA learned on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, that several inmates have escaped from the Kuje prison located on the outskirts of the Federal Capital Territory.
Sahara Reporters, said other inmates who did not escape have been removed from the facility including former Nigeria’s Deputy Commissioner, Abba Kyari who was remanded in custody by the Federal high court for alleged drug dealing.
The attackers suspected to be Boko Haram invaded the Kuje prison around 10:30 PM, a source in Nigeria told CNA.
“There were serious exchanges of gunshots between gunmen and security operatives in the area. The jailbreak was about 10 PM and when it happened, security forces were deployed to the area as they tried to contain it,” a resident told CNA via phone.
On Wednesday morning, a chopper was seen flying over Kuje while heavy security dispositions were put in place like checking outgoing and incoming cars.
It is not clear if the attackers were Boko haram men but sources have said there were some hardened criminals in the Kuje prison, like Boko Haram, and some high-profile inmates like former deputy Police Commissioner, Abba Kyari and co.
Premium Times reports that State security services had on Tuesday warned that the prison would be attacked, but the warnings were not taken into account.
It is also reported that some hardened Boko haram members were brought to prison three weeks before the bomb attack.
The attack comes barely 24 hours after the convoy of President Mohammadu Buhari was attacked in Katsina, Nigeria.
The Kuje prison has a capacity of about 500 inmates but reports say nearly 1000 are incarcerated there. The Nigerian Defence Minister, Bashir Salihi Magashi told the BBC that 600 inamtes escaped but 300 voluntarily came back.
