Nigeria President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, visited the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abuja, which was attacked Tuesday night by scores of armed terrorists, and queried the intelligence gathering system of the authorities at the centre.
The president, who spent 30 minutes to assess the extent of damage at the Correctional Centre, however, wondered why prison defences failed to work and immediately requested for a comprehensive report on the incident.
Meanwhile notorious terrorist group, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), has claimed responsibility for the violent attack on Kuje Prison in Abuja.
Buhari, who, like most Nigerians, was shocked by both the scale and audacity of the attack asked: “How did the defences at the prison fail to prevent the attack? How many inmates were in the facility? How many of them can you account for? How many personnel did you have on duty? How many of them were armed? Were there guards on the watchtower? What did they do? Does the CCTV work?”
After inspecting some of the points impacted by the attack, the president spoke to newsmen, during which he expressed disappointment with the intelligence system (and utilisation).
“I am disappointed with the intelligence system. How can terrorists organise, have weapons, attack a security installation and get away with it?” he queried.
Accompanied by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and his Chief of Staff, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, the President, said at the end of the visit that he was expecting “a comprehensive report” on the incident.
Earlier upon arrival, Buhari was briefed on the attack by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaib Mohammad Lamido Belgore, and the Controller General of Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, showing him the bombed-out section used to access first, and the records office, which was set on fire, adding that the invaders thereafter launched an attack on all cells in which Boko Haram terrorists were held.
The Commander-in-Chief was told that at the end of the attack, none of the 63 terrorists were accounted for, but it was emphasised that records were not lost, because they had been backed up.
Buhari was also informed that the security forces had recaptured 350 of the escapees while about 450 others were still unaccounted for, and that rapid work was under way to recapture the rest.
This, nonetheless, the presidency has said government would not be deterred from performing its official duties for the citizenry, despite the activities of terrorists in some parts of the country.
The Special Adviser on media and publicity to the President, Femi Adesina, made this known while responding to insinuation that President Buhari ought to shelve his journey to Dakar, Senegal to attend the International Development Association (IDA) for Africa Summit scheduled to hold today.
Critics had contended that cancelling the trip would allow the president to attend to pressing security issues, following the twin attacks on his advance convoy in Katsina and on Kuje Correctional Centre.
Adesina, who anchored the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting’s briefing by ministers, disagreed with the notion, saying, “The president should go (to Senegal), because there’s an international conference meant for heads of states and presidents; he should attend.
“You should never give in to terrorists. The moment terrorists begin to stop you from doing things, then, we might as well throw up our hands in surrender. The President should go ahead. Yes, it’s an international obligation.”
In an earlier release, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, had hinted that, the President would leave for Dakar to attend the IDA summit and return Thursday.
IDA, an institution of the World Bank Group, he said, was deepening its support to drive a resilient recovery for countries hit by the global crises of climate and COVID -19, growing levels of insecurity and more recently, by the impact of the war in Ukraine through its historic $93 billion 20th replenishment cycle (IDA20) which goes into effect between July 1, 2022 and June 30, 2025.
ISWAP Claims Responsibility for Kuje Attack
The Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP), a notorious terrorist organization, has claimed responsibility for the attack on the Kuje facility, Abuja.
In a footage Wednesday night, the terrorist sect showed some of its men shooting their way into the facility, as tens of fighters were seen marching in groups while vehicles and buildings were on fire in the 38 seconds video.
An elderly man dressed in a native attire also joined the young men, who were shouting on top of their voices
The Islamic State’s A’maq Agency released the video with the caption, although in Arabic: “Fighters of Islamic State attacked Kuje prison in Abuja, yesterday, and succeeded in freeing dozens of prisoners.”
Attack on Buhari’s Convoy Daring, Says Akeredolu
Ondo State Governor, Mr Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN), yesterday, condemned Tuesday’s attack on President Buhari’s convoy by bandits in Kastina State, describing it as daring.
This is as the governor said, the call for State Police was not for self-aggrandizement but a reality of the time.
Akeredolu spoke in Akure while playing host to his former school mates at Loyola College Ibadan (1968/1972) set, where he lamented the security situation in the country, adding that, it had gone from bad to worse.
He noted that the country’s security challenges had gone beyond Fulani herdsmen to the menace of bandits and ISWAP.
“We, governors in the Southwest met and we are still more than convinced that there is no solution other than state police. The truth is that, we will be prepared to protect ourselves and die in the process more than other people from outside. We can only protect ourselves better.
“We will be more committed to protecting ourselves. By the time we have State Police, we will be encouraged to recruit people in a local government to work in that local government as security.
“For me, state police is not for self-aggrandizement; it is a reality of the time. For us in the South and even in the North, I know so many of them that have come to accept that a single command of Police is not good for this country. This country is too big.
“We will continue to make our voice heard everywhere. We are almost there. We are licking our wounds here over the June 5 attack in Owo. It is a serious wound. We will never forget. We are putting together a memorial in a conspicuous place in Owo,” governor Akeredolu said.
Earlier, the Acting President of the Loyola College Old Boys’ Association (1968/1972) set, Mr Ayodele Adigun condemned the June 5 attack in Owo, while expressing shock that such heinous crime could be carried out in the Southwest.
He said the attack was particularly aimed at tarnishing the image of the governor and rubbish his efforts so far, especially, on the security of lives and property of the people.
NSCDC Promises to Compensate Family of Dead Officer
Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ahmed Audi, has promised compensation to the family of its staffer lost in the attack on Kuje Minimum Custodial Centre.
Speaking during a visit to the Centre, in company with the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Shauibu Belgore, Inspector General of Police, Controller General of Corrections Service, Comptroller General of the Federal Fire Service, representative of the Comptroller of Nigeria Immigration Service and Director Special Duties in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Funsho Alabi, Audi assured the family of the deceased, Inspector Ilyasu Abraham, that they would be reached out to and necessary compensation delivered in due time.
The Corps helmsman sympathised with the family of the deceased, who was deployed by the Federal Capital Territory command of the NSCDC to the custodial centre on guard duty but unfortunately paid the supreme price during the attack.
The CG commiserated with his immediate family and prayed God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, adding that Ilyasu was a gallant officer, who fought a good fight and died in active service defending the land.
He urged citizens to keep calm as NSCDC in collaboration with other security agencies were working tirelessly to ensuring the safety of lives and protection of Critical National Assets and Infrastructure.
The CG, however, said adequate measures would be put in place to avoid such reoccurrence across the country.
Kachikwu Urges Buhari to Resign over Worsening Insecurity
Presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Dumebi Kachikwu, has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to resign amid worsening insecurity in the country.
Kachikwu, in a statement, said the attack on the convoy of the President on its way to Daura, Katsina State and simultaneous attack on Kuje Correctional Centre, were clear signs that the country is now faced with a grave security threat.
He wondered who then is safe if the President’s convoy could be attacked as well as the Kuje Prison, which is just a few kilometers to the seat of power.
He insisted that the twin deadly attacks have once again exposed the nation’s weak security architecture, which Buhari has failed to strengthen.
“The events of the last 24 hours, have once again exposed the weak underbelly of our nation’s security architecture. Some members of the President’s advance team were slain while the Kuje prison in our nation’s capital was attacked and scores of prisoners released by terrorists.
“This is indeed another low moment in a series of low moments under the Buhari administration. I sympathise with the families of those killed in the line of duty. I once again call on President Buhari to do the honourable thing and resign since he can no longer secure the Nigerian people.
“Nigerians are paying a huge price for his inept leadership. If the terrorists are now bold enough to attack the President’s convoy and a heavily guarded prison just a few kilometres away from the Aso Villa, who then is safe in Buhari’s Nigeria?” Kachikwu asked.
Deji Elumoye, Chuks Okocha, Kingsley Nwezeh, Olawale Ajimotokan, Michael Olugbode in Abuja, James Sowole in Abeokuta and Fidelis David in Akure
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