Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has tasked traditional rulers in the area and others to work with security operatives to apprehend all the inmates that escaped from the Kuje prison following the Tuesday night attack on the facility by suspected terrorists.
Malam Bello, who was at the facility on Wednesday for an on-the-spot assessment of damage after the attack, called on the Gomo of Kuje, HRH Haruna Tanko Jibrin to summon all traditional chiefs in Kuje Area Council to combine intelligence with security agencies to fish out the escaped inmates from the community.
While calling on residents of the communities to provide appropriate intelligence to the security agencies to enable them do their work, the minister expressed confidence that, with maximum cooperation from the communities, all those who escaped would be traced, found and brought back since no one could go into any community and blend without being spotted by members of the community.
The minister, who met with the Comptroller General, Nigeria Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa and the Gomo of Kuje, during the visit, described the incident as “very sad and unfortunate,” adding that such incidents threaten everybody, hence the need for everyone to support the security agencies in carrying out their assignments.
The minister also stated that efforts are being made to strengthen security, not only around the facility, but the Kuje Area Council and other parts of the territory.
Malam Bello expressed condolences to the Gomo of Kuje, and sympathised with the family of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps officer who lost his life during the incident, describing him as “a very fine and gallant officer.”
On the minister’s entourage to the correction facility were, the FCT Police Commissioner, Sunday Babaji and heads of all the security agencies in the FCT, the Chairman of Kuje Area Council, Hon. Abdullahi Suleiman Sabo, and other senior officials of the FCT Administration.