Following the Kuje prison attack and break in on Tuesday night, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), had confirmed that the attack claimed the life of five people including one personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), attached to the Medium Security Custodial Centre.
Four inmates were also killed during the attack that lasted for hours.
The spokesperson for the NCoS, Umar Abubakar, confirmed this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.
The spokesperson has confirmed that DCP Abba Kyari and other VIPs held in the facility did not escape, saying “they are presently in custody, hale and hearty”.
According to Umar, the attackers, who used explosive devices came through the main entrance and the fence of the facility respectively, and left three personnel of the Service seriously injured.
“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,” Abubakar said.
According to Umar, as of the time of the attack on the Kuje facility, 38 military personnel were on the ground in addition to the personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, Civil Defence, DSS and NCoS’ Armed Squad.
The NCoS spokesman said the Service would deploy its Corrections Information Management System (CIMS) in synergy with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) to track all fleeing inmates and return them to custody.
He also confirmed that during a gunfight to claim back the situation, they killed some of the terrorists and some escaped wounded. On that note he appealed to“hospitals and other medical institutions and practitioners to report anyone that comes to them for treatment for gunshot injuries to the nearest law enforcement agency.”
