Fear grips FCT as 300 escaped terrorists set free from Kuje Prison are believed to be in the area

TENSION is rising across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs following the escape of over 600 inmates including Boko Haram terrorists and hardened violent criminals from Kuje Prison earlier this week.

On Tuesday night, Boko Haram terrorists attacked the facility with explosives and other dangerous weapons, freeing all their members and other criminal elements. Bashir Magashi, Nigeria's defence minister, said categorically that none of the Boko Haram suspects detained in the facility were found after the attack.

Also, according to a Nigerian Prison Service source, among the escaped inmates were Boko Haram and Islamic State of West Africa Province terrorists who were previously convicted. One local civil servant residing in Kuje Area Council, said that the area had been enveloped with tension over fear of possible attacks by the escaped terrorists.

He said: “We all lost our sleep on Tuesday night when the bandits attacked the prison as we started hearing gunshots from 10pm and it continued until they executed all their plans. Some people are already relocating from this area. We have been facing insecurity for a very long time before this one happened yesterday.

“As it is now, more than 800 criminals, including Boko Haram terrorists are staying around this place, living with us in Abuja here. You can imagine that. We are in trouble.”

Senior officers of the FCT Police Command held a meeting on Wednesday to strategise on his to combat the already deteriorating security crisis in the area. They believe that the police facilities will be the first to be attacked.

Similarly, a Christian cleric in Bwari Area Council, Pastor Adakpe Ujah, expressed fears that churches in Abuja may be the next target of the terrorists. He called on the federal government and the FCT administration to as a matter of urgency, beef-up security in all worship centres before Sunday, July 10.

“Those who escaped from the prison, where are they? I think they are still within the city, so the federal government needs to be proactive this time. We all know their agenda, churches may be their next target.

Dr Shuaib Belgore, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Interior, claimed those behind the attack were Boko Haram insurgents who came specifically for their members held in custody. He, however, said about 300 had been recaptured, while 300 are still at large.

Dr Belgore said: “There have been several attacks on our facilities most of them being repelled but every now and then, there is one that succeeds. With this one, they came very determined with high explosives.

“The initial entry attempt was unsuccessful, then they attacked another section of the wall with higher-grade explosives which brought the wall down. The forces on the ground did everything they could to repel them but the number they came with was high, which they were not able to defend against. They kept on fighting gallantly unfortunately the breach happened."