Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has claimed that the country’s prisons were not built to withstand external attacks.
Aregbesola stated this while speaking on terrorists attack on Kuje Custodial Centre in the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking at the launch of the Enhanced e-Passport for Nigerians in Washington DC, United States, the minister said the nation’s custodial centres were designed “to prevent and foil internal disturbances and riots.”
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According to him: “Our system was primed to prevent and foil internal disturbances and riots, not external attacks/invasion since the facilities were usually built around police and military formations,”
He, however, directed the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) to urgently work with other security bodies to ensure maximum protection of the custodial centres in Nigeria.
According to a statement by the Minister’s media aide, Sola Fasure, concerted efforts were being made to re-arrest all the inmates that escaped from the penitentiary.
He also made it known that 400 inmates were back in the facility.
According to him: “security officers on duty fiercely engaged the attackers and inflicted a heavy casualty on them.”
Aregbesola explained that preliminary investigation showed that the attackers whom he believes were Boko Haram insurgents overpowered the NCoS officers that were on duty.
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His words: “Regrettably, the unprecedented number, they overpowered the officers on duty.
“Preliminary investigation indicates that the Boko Haram sect may have been responsible for the attack.
“The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), in conjunction with other security agencies, are working to bring back in the escaped inmates.” Aregbesola also noted that following previous incidences of attacks, well-armed soldiers, police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers were drafted to the custodial centres nationwide to secure them against further attacks.
