The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Wednesday, visited the Kuje custodial center after Tuesday’s terrorist attack on the facility.
The PUNCH reports that the terrorists attacked the centre and freed inmates including 64 of their members held in the custody during the attack.
Giving details of the attack, the Nigeria Correctional Service’s spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, said one Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel and four inmates died during the incident.
In a statement on Wednesday, Abubakar said the terrorists used explosives on the center’s fence and its main entrance to gain access to the facility.
According to him, a total of 16 inmates and three custodial officers were injured during the attack.
He said 879 inmates escaped from the facility while 443 had been recaptured and 551 are still at large.
“A total of 879 inmates escaped from the facility during the unfortunate attack. As at the time of this report, 443 have been recaptured, 551 inmates are currently in custody, 443 inmates are still at large, 4 inmates dead and 16 inmates sustained various degrees of injuries and are being treated at the moment. However, efforts are ongoing to recapture all fleeing inmates.
“The Service will deploy its Corrections Information Management System in synergy with the National Identity Management Commission to track all fleeing inmates and return them to custody.” (Punch)