Report: Most of the 700 inmates at the Kuje correctional facility in Abuja have escaped

Most of the 700 inmates at the Kuje correctional facility in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory have escaped according to SaharaReporters accounts.

SaharaReporters also learnt that other inmates have been removed from the facility including the suspended deputy commissioner of police, Abba Kyari, who was remanded at the prison by a Federal High Court.

Kyari is standing trial for allegedly dealing in cocaine alongside four members of his former police unit, the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Unit (IRT), and two other persons arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu, Enugu State, in January this year. 

Gunmen suspected to be terrorists on Tuesday night attacked the prison facility in Nigeria’s capital city, and NewsWireNGR gathered that,the facility was ruined by the heavy firepower brought by the assailants. 

The prison is in Kuje Area Council of the FCT, lying outside the Abuja city centre, 47 kilometres to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, and 24 kilometres to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

Dangerous criminals, including apprehended Boko Haram terrorists, are held in the prison, which also houses high profile public officers standing trial or already convicted.

In the meantime, the Nigerian Correctional Service has confirmed that there was an attack on the Custodial Centre in the Kuje area council of the Federal Capital Territory.

In a statement by its spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, in the early hours of Wednesday, he said the armed squad of the service in collaboration with other security agencies responded to the attack.

He, however, said calm had been returned to the area.

The statement was titled, “Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje attacked by gunmen.”

It read, “I wish to confirm that at about 2200hrs, some yet-to-be-identified gunmen attacked the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, in the Federal Capital Territory.

“However, men of the Armed Squad of the Nigerian Correctional Service and other security agencies attached to the Custodial Centre have responded and calm has been restored to the facility and the situation is under control.

“Other details will be made available soon.”