Seven Major Things To Know About Kuje Prison Attack

It is no longer news that terrorists on Tuesday night invaded the Kuje Medium Correctional Center in Abuja and released not less than 600 inmates.

According to reports that the terrorists released 15 commanders of the group that masterminded the Abuja-Kaduna train attack on March 28.

Hours after the incident, the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) claimed responsibility for the daring attack on the Correctional Centre.

The terrorist sect, in a video released on Wednesday night, showed some of its men shooting their way into the federal facility.

Below are the seven major things to know about the attack on Kuje prison attack.

1. Explosives Were Used During Attack

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) said that the attackers broke into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje using explosive devices through the main entrance and the fence of the facility respectively.

The NCos Spokesman, Umar Abubakar, in a statement on Wednesday, said it was in this attempt that a security officer was killed.

2. Five People Killed

Abubakar, in the statement, revealed that four inmates and an officer of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were confirmed dead during the attack.

3. 24 Persons Injured

The NCoS spokesman said that 16 inmates sustained various degrees of injuries, while eight NSCDC operatives were seriously injured during the attack. He added that all the wounded persons are currently receiving medical attention2 *

4. 879 Inmates Escaped

Abubakar also revealed that a total of 879 inmates escaped during the attack which saw vehicles burnt and parts of the facility destroyed.

He revealed that 443 of the escapees have been recaptured while 551 inmates are currently in custody, and 443 inmates are still at large.

5. All 64 Boko Haram Members Escaped

The Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, on Wednesday, disclosed that all 64 Boko Haram terrorists who were in the custody of the correctional centre, fled the facility. He said this to reporters following his assessment of the incident.

6. Boko Haram Behind Attack

With the number of Boko Haram terrorists who escaped from the Kuje Prison during the attack on Tuesday night, Magashi said there are strong indications that it was the terrorists that invaded the facility to free their members who are being held in detention.

7. Abba Kyari and other VIPs Safe

Contrary to reports suggesting that DCP Abba Kyari had escaped during the attack, the NCoS spokesman said the embattled police officer and other VIPs are hail and hearty and remain in their custody.