Kuje was 'most fortified' prison in Nigeria, says Aregebesola after fatal attack
The Kuje detention center which was attacked by terrorists on Tuesday was the most heavily fortified prison in Nigeria, Home Minister Rauf Aregebesola said.
Mr. Aregebesola said so in a statement on Friday after visiting the prison.
The Minister said that although the prison is officially a "medium" security prison, it was the most heavily fortified in the country.
“There was a Nigerian army platoon with sophisticated weaponry, elite Nigerian police men, Nigerian security and civil defense officers and armed officers from the Nigerian Correctional Service, on the pitch at the time of the attack,” he said.
“Kuje is the most fortified in the country, if the fortification for security is the determining factor as to whether it is medium or maximum. It is medium in size but maximum by the security in place there.”
Mr. Aregebesola's laments over the failure of security officials to prevent the attack on the prison are similar to those expressed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
PREMIUM TIMES reported the president's remarks during his brief visit to the prison on Wednesday.
Mr. Buhari wondered how such an attack could have happened despite the presence of security forces.
However, other officials like Defense Minister Bashir Magashi argued that the security officials present were overwhelmed by the number of attackers.
Around 300 terrorists reportedly attacked the prison.
One of the prison security guards was killed while four inmates also died.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that more than 800 inmates initially escaped in the attack on the prison, about half of whom remain at large and the rest have been re-arrested.
Those still at large include more than 60 members of the Boko Haram sect who were detained at the facility.
In his Friday evening statement, Mr. Aregebesola said the Buhari government would rise to the challenge posed by the terrorists.
"...we must put everything that is happening now in the context of the asymmetric war being unleashed against the nation by these criminal elements and we will get there, that is the assurance I want to give to Nigerians", he wrote.
Read the minister's full statement below.
Today I led the leadership of the Ministry of Interior and its agencies on an inspection visit to the Kuje detention center which was recently attacked by gunmen suspected of being terrorists.
There was a Nigerian army platoon with sophisticated weaponry, elite Nigerian police men, Nigerian security and civil defense officers and armed officers from the Nigerian Correctional Service, on the ground at the time of the attack.
We have a world-class facility at every level. I am disappointed with the level of defense. We had enough men to protect the installation, but unfortunately they couldn't hold their position effectively for the defense and that was the reason for the breach.
The Kuje detention center which was attacked by terrorists on Tuesday was the most heavily fortified prison in Nigeria, Home Minister Rauf Aregebesola said.
Mr. Aregebesola said so in a statement on Friday after visiting the prison.
The Minister said that although the prison is officially a "medium" security prison, it was the most heavily fortified in the country.
“There was a Nigerian army platoon with sophisticated weaponry, elite Nigerian police men, Nigerian security and civil defense officers and armed officers from the Nigerian Correctional Service, on the pitch at the time of the attack,” he said.
“Kuje is the most fortified in the country, if the fortification for security is the determining factor as to whether it is medium or maximum. It is medium in size but maximum by the security in place there.”
Mr. Aregebesola's laments over the failure of security officials to prevent the attack on the prison are similar to those expressed by President Muhammadu Buhari.
PREMIUM TIMES reported the president's remarks during his brief visit to the prison on Wednesday.
Mr. Buhari wondered how such an attack could have happened despite the presence of security forces.
However, other officials like Defense Minister Bashir Magashi argued that the security officials present were overwhelmed by the number of attackers.
Around 300 terrorists reportedly attacked the prison.
One of the prison security guards was killed while four inmates also died.
PREMIUM TIMES reported that more than 800 inmates initially escaped in the attack on the prison, about half of whom remain at large and the rest have been re-arrested.
Those still at large include more than 60 members of the Boko Haram sect who were detained at the facility.
In his Friday evening statement, Mr. Aregebesola said the Buhari government would rise to the challenge posed by the terrorists.
"...we must put everything that is happening now in the context of the asymmetric war being unleashed against the nation by these criminal elements and we will get there, that is the assurance I want to give to Nigerians", he wrote.
Read the minister's full statement below.
Today I led the leadership of the Ministry of Interior and its agencies on an inspection visit to the Kuje detention center which was recently attacked by gunmen suspected of being terrorists.
There was a Nigerian army platoon with sophisticated weaponry, elite Nigerian police men, Nigerian security and civil defense officers and armed officers from the Nigerian Correctional Service, on the ground at the time of the attack.
We have a world-class facility at every level. I am disappointed with the level of defense. We had enough men to protect the installation, but unfortunately they couldn't hold their position effectively for the defense and that was the reason for the breach.
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