Boko Haram terrorists set free over 150 fighter after it launched a ferocious attack on Kuje Correctional Center Tuesday night, deploying bombs, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) and General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG), freeing no less than 600 inmates, including Boko Haram fighters detained at the facility.
Six inmates and one security personnnel were killed during the attack.
But the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Magashi (rtd) said of the 994 inmates at the prison, 600 escaped.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mohammed Bello and the Commissioner of Police, Mr Sunday Babaji are presently at the scene of the attack.
Prison officials said at the end of the attack following a roll call taken at 2am, on Wednesday, only 111 inmates were left.
The situation also forced the relocation of other other high profile detainees, notably, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, among others.
The insurgents had attacked through the back of the prison and planted bombs around the facility.
The minister, who said the situation was under control, confirmed that Boko Haram inmates had all escaped.
“The attack started around 10:30pm. They came in their number, gained entrance into the prison and they released some of the inmates and which we are now following to see the kind of inmates that they have released.
“Very soon, we will give you the correct figure of the inmates that were taken. Aside that, we are trying to see what we can do to ensure that all escapees are returned back”, he said.
