Security officials at the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) are only trained to prevent and foil internal disturbance and riots, not external attacks/invasion.
This was disclosed by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, on Thursday in a statement by his spokesperson, Sola Fasure.
He said the new threat became obvious after last year’s attack on a similar correctional facility in Abolongo in Oyo State.
Aregbesola said: “After the Abolongo, Oyo State, attack on a correctional facility, in October last year, it became apparent that a new form of attack for which our system was not prepared for had emerged.
“Our system was primed to prevent and foil internal disturbance and riots, not external attacks/invasion, since the facilities were usually built around police and military formations.”
The minister ordered the NCoS to work with other security agencies to fortify all correctional facilities in the country to forestall a repeat of attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre.
Mr Aregbesola also directed that all personnel be vigilant and alert, to avoid recurrence and also directed that full investigation into the incident be carried out as soon as possible.
He warned that appropriate actions would be taken should any complicity be established and pledged to continue to strengthen all correctional facilities to keep all Nigerians safe at all times.
“We are working with the Ministry of Defence and the office of the National Security Adviser and other intelligence and security agencies to ensure the attackers and the escaped inmates are captured and returned to custody,” he said.
