Buhari had, on Wednesday, visited Kuje Prisons, where he expressed disappointment with the nation’s intelligence system.
By Emma Ogbuehi
Smarting from the national embarrassment arising from the Tuesday bombardment of Kuje Correctional Centre Abuja by suspected terrorists, President Muhammadu Buhari has summoned emergency National Security Council meeting with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo.
This is as the federal Government has declared 33 escapee book Haram terrorists wanted.
Some cabinet ministers and all security and service chiefs in attendance. Others attending the security meeting include Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Chief of Staff to the President, Prof. Ibrahim Gambari.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, was represented at the meeting.
The meeting would deliberate on nation’s security challenges occasioned by the recent attacks on Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, by suspected terrorists where high profile Boko Haram inmates escaped.
The Prison was invaded by gunmen on Tuesday and scores of inmates, including 64 Boko Haram commanders as well as other hardened criminals, released.
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According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the President had, on Wednesday, visited the Custodial Centre, where he expressed disappointment with the nation’s intelligence system.
After inspecting some of the points impacted by the attack, Buhari expressed disappointment with the intelligence system and utilization.
He said: “I am disappointed with the intelligence system. How can terrorists organize, have weapons, attack a security installation and get away with it?”
Flowing from the President’s expression of disappointment, the Federal Government has declared wanted, 33 of the inmates who escaped from its Kuje Prison in Abuja on Tuesday night.
Prison authorities have further released the photographs of 69 inmates, including Boko Haram insurgents and others who escaped from the Custodial Centre.
However, the names of Hamisu Wadume, the notorious kidnap kingpin from Taraba and Boko Haram Commander, Al Barnawi were not in the list.
Wadume was being detained in connection with the killing of three members of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in a special operation led by embattled Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Abba Kyari.
The list which carries the names and photographs of the wanted terrorists and other inmates was the first to be issued by the Service through the office of the Public Relations Officer, Umar Abubakar.
The 33 inmates decalred wanted were are said to have cases relating to terrorism and being members of the Boko Haram sect.
Scores of terrorists had on Tuesday night launched a daring attack on the facility, bombing their way in and freeing 879 inmates, among whom were at least 64 who terror-related charges on their necks.
Some of those declared wanted are Muhammad Sani Adamu, Muktar Umar, Nambil Zakari Gambo, AbdulKareem Musa, Abdulsalami Adamu and others.