…ORDERS COMPREHENSIVE REPORT OF INCIDENT
President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, frowned at the security system at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, and described it as disappointing.
The President made the observation when he visited the facility to assess the level of damage caused by the Boko Haram terrorists who invaded the facility on Tuesday night.
The terrorists numbering over 300 stormed the facility with explosives and high caliber weapons while shooting sporadically from all the direction of the correctional centre located in Abuja, the nation’s capital.
At the end of the daring assault, the terrorists accomplished their likely mission to release 64 Boko Haram members who were held at the facility,
The President was on his way to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, en route to Dakar, Senegal, for International Development Association (IDA) for Africa Summit before making detour to kuje Correctional Centre.
The President’s planned journey to Dakar came under scrutiny because of the attack on the correctional Centre and the earlier ambush of his advance team to Daura on Tuesday.
A statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu said the President Buhari expressed disappointment when 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.
He said the President was taken round the facility where he was shown the bombed-out section used to access the facility, and the records office, which was set on fire.
He added that the invaders thereafter launched an attack on all cells in which Boko Haram terrorists were held.
“I am disappointed with the intelligence system. How can terrorists organize, have weapons, attack a security installation and get away with it?” The President said.
“The President was surprised that, at the end of it, none of the 63 terrorists are accounted for, though it was emphasized that records are not lost because they have been backed up.
“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?” Question after question.
“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.
“After inspecting some of the points impacted by the attack, President Buhari spoke to newsmen, expressing disappointment with the intelligence system (and utilization).” The statement reads.
According to him, the President who was accompanied by Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Professor 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 wishes to use this opportunity to react to mounting criticism of the trip to Dakar, Senegal, 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.” The statement reads.
