Nigeria Correctional Service, on Wednesday, explained how 879 inmates, including Boko Haram members in its custody, escaped following Tuesday night attack on its Kuje facility.
Boko Haram insurgents, in a coordinated operation, attacked the facility, deploying explosives.
In the pandemonium, the terrorists freed 64 of its members held in the facility.
The NCS, through its spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, confirmed on Wednesday that 879 inmates escaped during the mayhem.
He said, while 443 of the fleeing inmates have been recaptured, 551 were still at large.
He said that four inmates lost their lives during the attack, while a Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) personnel was also killed.
According to him, some of the attackers were killed while some escaped with gunshot wounds.
He said, “In furtherance to my earlier press release on the unfortunate attack by gunmen suspected to be terrorists, I wish to state that the attackers broke into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje using explosive devices through the main entrance and the fence of the facility respectively, killing a personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) attached to the Custodial Centre and living three (3) personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service seriously injured.
“A total of 879 inmates escaped from the facility during the unfortunate attack. As at the time of this report, 443 have been recaptured, 551 inmates are currently in custody, 443 inmates are still at large, 4 inmates dead and 16 inmates sustained various degrees of injuries and are being treated at the moment. However, efforts are ongoing to recapture all fleeing inmates.
“The Service will deploy its Corrections Information Management System in synergy with the National Identity Management Commission to track all fleeing inmates and return them to custody.”
He said that DCP Abba Kyari and other high profile personalities did not escape from the center during the attack.
“We, therefore, appeal to hospitals and other medical institutions and practitioners to report anyone that comes to them for treatment for gunshot injuries to the nearest law enforcement agency,” he said.
