The lead negotiator between the terrorists that abducted the Abuja-Kaduna train victims and Federal Government, Tukur Mamu, has stated ”categorically” that the same terrorists attacked Kuje Prison.
In a statement, on Wednesday, titled ‘ON FRESH THREAT TO START SLAUGHTERING VICTIMS OF TRAIN ATTACK AND KUJE PRISON INVASION: HOW I SHARED INTELLIGENCE WITH AUTHORITIES WITH NO PROMPT ACTION TAKEN’, Mamu also alleged that his life was also being threatened.
Mamu further announced his withdrawal as negotiator and accused the government of unnecessarily delaying the process that could lead to the release of the kidnapped passengers.
Barely 24 hours after Mamu Takur’s claims, terrorist group, Islamic State West Africa (ISWAP), claimed responsibility for the attack on Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja.
In a video shared by the terrorist group, on Wednesday, many of the inmates were seen fleeing the prison while the terrorists chanted ‘Allahu Akbar’.
Meanwhile, according to reports, Kuje prison official claim a large sum of money had been carted away by the terrorists during the attack.
As of the time of filling this report, an official statement on the stolen funds is yet to be released by the authorities.
On Tuesday, 5th July 2022, the Kuje Medium Custodial Centre in Abuja, was attacked by a group of terrorists.
The terrorists ambushed with bombs in an attempt to invade the facility and free some of its members.
According to the, Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), a member of the civil defence (NSCDC), and four inmates were killed, with several inmates 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 degree of injuries and are being treated at the moment. However, efforts are ongoing to recapture all fleeing inmates.”
The Defence Minister, Bashir Magashi, said 64 Boko haram members who escaped are also still at large.
President Muhammadu Buhari, on Wednesday, visited the facility, before his trip to Dakar, Senegal, to inspect the damage while assuring correctional managers of support.
The president while speaking to journalists, said he is disappointed with the intelligence system and utilisation at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, Abuja.
As President Buhari departed the premises, prisoners began to shout that they’d lost money during the raid, while some threatened violence should officials fail to return their cash.