The Nigerian Senate on Thursday expressed displeasure with the management of Kuje Medium Security Custodian Centre over attacks early hours of Wednesday by terrorists.
Senate is also unhappy with the absence of a functional Close Circuit Television (CCTV) at the prison which incapacitated management and security from preventing and responding appropriately to the attack that led to the escape of over 800 inmates.
President of the Senate Ahmad Lawan who expressed the disappointment when he led other principal officers on the spot assessment of the facility attack, described it as very disappointing and a failure of the security system.
“This is unacceptable and will not be condoned. For CCTV and other relevant tracking gadgets not to be functional, are highly disturbing and dangerous for the security of inmates and residents of the Federal Capital Territory.
“The way the operation was even carried out based on inspection made by us, strongly indicate insiders’ connivance which must be critically looked into” the Senate President observed.
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According to the Comptroller – General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, 51 security officers were said to be on ground as at the time of the attack.
The 51 security operatives as submitted by the Comptroller General, were overwhelmed by the 300 attackers armed with AK 47 and Improvised Explosives Device (IEDs).
“Our men and other security operatives like the Army and Police, gave the attackers the required counter offensive which made them to suffer casualty of about four terrorists” he said.
“This type of poor response to the heinous crime of this nature is not deterring in anyway because they can attack again” he said.
Thereafter, the Senate President told the Comptroller-General to ensure proposals such as procurement of CCTV and other tracking gadgets as well as enough security personnel at the centre in 2023 budget.
He said the Senate Committee on Interior and other security related ones, will very soon summon the Comptroller-General and other relevant authorities for a post mortem review of the incidence and fashion a way out.
“There should be an end to all these issues of jail break or outright attacks. Our failing security system must be reviewed and required technology brought to bear because all maximum and medium correctional centres must have functional CCTV and well secured at all times against any form of attack”, he stressed.
Emmanuel Ukoh
