House Of Reps To Probe Attack On Kuje Prisons

The House of Representatives yesterday mandated its Committees on National Security and Intelligence, Interior, Reformatory Services, Defence, Army, Airforce, Navy, and Police to investigate the causes, dimensions, and effects of the recent attack on Kuje Prison in Abuja.

It also urged the Federal Government to implement the recommendations of the National Security Summit organized by the leadership of the House of Representatives in 2021.

The resolutions followed the consideration of a motion, titled “Need to Investigate the Terrorists Attack on Nigerian Prisons, Kuje” presented by Sha’aban I. Sharada at plenary.

Moving the motion, Sharada recalled that on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, terrorists attacked the Nigerian  Medium Security Prison, Kuje, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The lawmaker also recalled that on Wednesday, July 6, 2022, the Minister of Defence, Major General Bashir Salihi Magashi, retd, while on an assessment visit to the scene of the incident, stated that over 600 inmates, including 64 Boko Haram suspects, out of about 994 inmates accommodated in the prison, escaped.

“The President expressed disappointment over the embarrassing development and directed a comprehensive investigation to address the situation.

“The development makes the country and the Federal Capital Territory, in particular, vulnerable and under the fear of attacks, risk intimidation, and all sorts of threats due to a large number of criminal escapees in the country.

“The enormous resources expended by the federal government towards ensuring the realization of public security and welfare of its citizens.”