ATTACK ON KUJE CUSTODIAL CENTRE, NCoS Provides Update

Haliru Nababa

"443 of the escapees have been recaptured, bringing the total number of inmates in the facility to 578." Umar Abubakar NCoS PRO.

"Three of the attackers were killed in the encounter while several others escaped with bullet wounds."

Following the late Tuesday night attack on the Kuje Medium Security Correctional Centre by armed men suspected to be terrorists, the Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa has, through the Public Relations Officer of the Service, Chief Superintendent of Corrections, Umar Abubakar AICMC, ANIPR, provided a further update on the incident.

In a statement issued and signed by Umar Abubakar on behalf of the Controller General on Wednesday, stated that, "443 of the escapees have been recaptured, bringing the total number of inmates in the facility to 578.

According to Abubakar, he disclosed that, "three of the attackers were killed in the encounter while several others escaped with bullet wounds."

"Recall that in the wake of the attack on Abolongo Custodial Centre in Oyo State, the Honourable Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola met with the Security Chiefs in the Ministry to draw up a joint security framework for the protection of Custodial Centres against further breaches.

"This is in addition to expanding the frontiers of collaboration to other agencies to fortify the facilities. Hence, at the time of the attack, personnel from the military, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Police Force, State Security Service were on ground to support men of the Armed Squad unit of the Nigerian Correctional Service. 

"During the gun battle, a personnel of the NSCDC unfortunately lost his life and three (3) officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service also sustained bullet injuries. Four (4) inmates lost their lives while 16 others sustained various degree of injuries." He stated.

Umar Abubakar further disclosed that "the Controller-General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa has ordered immediate deployment of the e-Corrections Information Management System (e-CIMS) to track all fleeing inmates and return them to custody."

While appealing for prompt supply of credible information to rearesst the fleeing inmates, the Controller General has assured the public that the biometrics of all the inmates are intact and will be used to track them wherever they hide.

He expressed his appreciation to men of other security agencies for their support and gallantry even as he extends his condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and wishes the injured a quick recovery.