The Federal Government announced on Thursday that it had successfully thwarted another jailbreak attempt following the attack on the Kuje Correctional Facility in early July 2022. Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola made this statement during the 64th session of the State House Ministerial briefing, organized by the Presidential Communications Team at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. While Aregbesola did not specify which correctional facility was involved, he asserted that those responsible for the attack had been “sent to their maker.” He emphasized that no escaping inmate could remain hidden indefinitely, as their biometrics have been permanently recorded in the Nigeria Police database.
On the night of July 5, 2022, armed individuals stormed the Kuje Correctional Centre, located in a satellite town in Abuja. Following a gun battle, over 400 inmates, many of whom were believed to be linked to the Boko Haram sect, managed to escape. When questioned about the underlying causes of the recurring jailbreaks, Aregbesola stated, “It is the season. I know you don’t want to hear it. Have we had what we are experiencing in Nigeria today before? It is the season, and it is global.” He drew parallels to violence in other countries, noting, “Why do we have assassinations in America? Bad as it is, it is horrible, but in America, people get killed every second. In California, within the last week, 20 people have been killed. Did you ask why? It has nothing to do with technology; it could even be linked to climate change.”
Aregbesola continued, explaining that when circumstances become challenging, those unable to manage their stability may resort to violence. He acknowledged the presence of terrorism and banditry in Nigeria, stating, “We are managing it. It is because of the level of insecurity in Nigeria, and we are arising from it. It is as simple as that.” He assured Nigerians that future jailbreaks would be more difficult, claiming that some individuals who attempted to escape after the Kuje incident have already been dealt with. “We are doing our best to ensure that it will be difficult for anybody to attack our facilities,” he said, adding that security forces are being equipped to defend these facilities effectively.
Aregbesola expressed
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