Magashi says: “I think they are about 64 in the Kuje prison and none of them now is available they have all escaped.”
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, has disclosed that all the Boko Haram terrorists being held in Kuje prison have escaped.
Recall that Kabiru Sokoto, the mastermind of the 2011 Christmas Day bombing at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Madalla, Niger State, was being held in the Kuje prison until the attack last night by his terrorist colleagues.
According to the Defence Minister, none of the Boko Haram suspects detained at the Kuje prison is currently in the facility, about 64 of them.
Also recall that the terrorists holding the passengers of the Abuja-Kaduna train had demanded the release of their top commanders in exchange for the freedom of their hostages. It is not clear if the attack on the Kuje prison was a coincidence or an extension of the negotiation for the release of the Abuja-Kaduna train passengers.
According to reporting by Daily Trust, at least 900 inmates escaped from the Kuje Prison during the attack.
Addressing journalists after taking an assessment tour of the facility, the Defence Minister said: “The attack started around 10:30 pm. They came in their numbers gained entrance into the prison and released some of the inmates and we are now following to see the kind of inmates that they have released.
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“Very soon, we will give you the correct figure of the inmates that were taken. Aside from that, we are trying to see what we can do to ensure that all escapees are returned back.
“The prison is accommodating about 994 inmates and over 600 escaped. Many people have been recaptured and brought back to prison. Maybe by the close of the day, more will have been captured and returned.
“I think everything is under control. The people who came to do this activity, from the records, we believe they belong to a particular group. Most likely, they are Boko Haram members because we have a sizeable number of Boko Haram suspects in detention, and presently we cannot locate any of them.
“I think they are about 64 in the Kuje prison and none of them now is available they have all escaped.”