Prison Break: How terrorists operated for three hours, freed 64 top Boko Haram Commanders in Kuje

Prison Break: How terrorists operated for three hours, freed 64 top Boko Haram Commanders in Kuje

By: James Bwala

The attackers of the Kuje prison operated for three hours according to security reports. They operated from 10:30pm on Tuesday and 1:30 am on Wednesday. Information filtering following the attack revealed that the attack may have been informed by the demand of some terrorists for the released of their top commanders detained in the facility.

Impeccable sources told NEWSng during the surprise visit at the prison by President Muhammadu Buhari that there may be connection of the attack with the demand by terrorists group, which attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train in March this year, as according to sources one of the demand by the Abuja-Kaduna train attackers was the released of some top commanders in custody at Kuje.

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Sources revealed that, the attackers who are chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’ – meaning, Allah is great as they overwhelmed and overran security Operatives guarding the facility where heard saying that ‘if the government will not release our brothers, we have come to take them home by Allah’s will.’

At the time of the attack, there were 38 soldiers, and not specified numbers of Police personnel, personnel of the NSCDC, Officers of the Immigration Services, DSS and Special Squad of the Prison guard, who were on collaborative exercise, according to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

Sources said over 100 Security Operatives were at the facility when the attackers arrived but the firepower from the attackers was overwhelming forcing the operatives to tactically withdraw and wait for reinforcement.

“Their numbers and the weapons they are using are superior that our men had to retreat. However reinforcement did not also come in time. By the time soldiers and other security operatives could have arrived, they had successfully operated and withdrawn. “A source at the facility revealed.

It could be recalled that in a video message to government, in April 2022 terrorists that derailed the Abuja – Kaduna train said that the Nigerian government knows their demands.

They said in the video which circulated in viral that their demands are not about money but that the government knows. 

Reports also from the prison on Wednesday morning were an eye opener to that demands by the terrorists group, which continued to attack innocent citizens.

This also collaborated with what the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi said when he visited the facility revealing that 64 top Boko Haram Commanders all escaped.

It also collaborate the position of government when hundreds of passengers were taken during the attack by terrorists on the Abuja- Kaduna train where the Minister of information Mr. Lai Mohammed revealed that there is an unholy marriage between Bandits and Boko Haram Insurgents.

President Buhari’s surprise visit at the facility following the Boko Haram attack where several terrorists and other inmates were freed indicated how seriously the attack would have change alot about the security strategies and government policies on the security of the country.

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Mr. Shuaibu Belgore has confirmed that about 600 inmates escaped from the Kuje Correctional Centre following last night’s attack by suspected terrorists.

Security operatives have cordon the area making movement around Kuje area council and environs very difficult for citizens living around Kuje local council. According to security sources the assailants may still be around the council area hibernating before moving on.

However, security analysts and strategists in Abuja have seen this differently. A security strategist, who spoke to NEWSng, has a different opinion. According to Ahmed Ibrahim, the country is dealing with a serious criminal group, which did not seem to understand their modus operandi.

“… I cannot put the rationale of two events happening almost at about six hour’s difference. I believe the same bandits that attack the president convoy cannot be the same group that attacks the prison. This is to say that these criminals are already everywhere. Our government must wake up.

“Talking about whether or not they are still within the Abuja axis for me is when you are dealing with small-time criminals. Such a group are known to know their routes through the forest and do not have the luxury of time to hibernate anywhere close. 

“For them once freed you continue moving. If you put the time by which they have been freed and now, you may agree with me that they would have covered distance not closer here. These criminals are on the move together with the attackers.” Ahmed Ibrahim said.

Prison Break: How terrorists operated for three hours, freed 64 top Boko Haram Commanders in Kuje