Maj Gen Bashir Magashi (rtd), minister of defence said all Boko Haram suspects who escaped from the Kuje custodial centre after Tuesday night attack are still at large.
The minister said this on Wednesday after an assessment tour of the facility during which he confirmed that 64 Boko Haram members fled the facility adding that the terrorists sect is responsible for the attack.
“We have a sizable number of Boko Haram suspects in detention, they have all escaped and presently we cannot locate any of them. Many people are being recaptured, we are trying to see what we can do to see that all escapees are brought back to the prison,” he said.
Read also: Prison attack: Business activities grounded in Kuje, as banks, markets are shut
However, Magashi noted that investigations are still on to ascertain the number of missing inmates. He said, “Very soon, we will give you the correct figure of the inmates that were taken. Aside from that, we are trying to see what we can do to ensure that all escapees are returned.”
The minister noted that the prison is accommodating about 994 inmates, over 600 escaped and many have been recaptured and brought back to the prison.
The minister reassured Nigerians that the jail breakers cannot go unapprehended and would definitely face the wrath of the law. He disclosed that further briefs on the incident that led to the infraction will be received adding that one life was lost on the side of the proactive repellents security forces.
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