By Oluwaseun Sonde
Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari has questioned the defences that failed to prevent the attack on Kuje prison which led to death and flee of inmates on Tuesday, while demanded for comprehensive report on the incident.
The President who expressed disappointment on the intelligence system and utilization of the prison when he paid a visit to the Custodial centre on Wednesday, said "how can terrorists organize, have weapons, attack a security installation and get away with it?”
About 63 terrorists were reportedly stormed the facility setting free All the Boko Haram terrorists and other high profile criminals that left one personnel dead, three others injured, also four inmates killed, 16 sustained injuries, while 443 still at large.
Soon after the President arrived the scene, he was briefed about the attack by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaib Mohammad Lamido Belgore and the Controller General of Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa.
Showing President Buhari the bombed-out section used to access first, and the records office which was set on fire, adding that the invaders thereafter launched an attack on all cells in which Boko Haram terrorists were held.
President Buhari, who, like most Nigerians was shocked by both the scale and audacity of the attack queried: “How did the defences at the prison fail to prevent the attack?
"How many inmates were in the facility? How many of them can you account for? How many personnel did you have on duty? How many of them were armed? Were there guards on the watchtower? What did they do? Does the CCTV work?”
The President was also informed that the security forces have recaptured 350 of the escapees while about 450 others are still unaccounted for, and that rapid work is under way to recapture the rest.
Buhari who was accompanied by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Prof Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff, said at the end of the visit that he is expecting “a comprehensive report” on the incident.
The Presidency wished to use this opportunity to react to mounting criticism of the trip to Dakar, Senegal by the President, and to stress that Governments don't stop working because nations face terrorist threats.
To cancel the trip to Senegal would mean that the terrorists are successful in calling the shots, something that no responsible government in the world will allow.
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