The Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists who attacked the Medium Security Custodial Center in the Kuje area of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja on Tuesday night were said to have shared transportation fares to the inmates to aid their escape.
Over 800 inmates were said to have escaped when the terrorists struck, but 400 of them have been recaptured while some of the inmates returned to the prison of their own volition.
ISWAP, in a viral video of the invasion and activities at the Kuje Prison, have claimed responsibility for the attack.
Daily Trust reliably gathered that after the attackers successfully gained entrance into the prison yard, they told the inmates that were ready to escape to come out.
One of the security officials who coordinated the rescue mission that recaptured many of the inmates confided in one of our correspondents that some of the recaptured prisoners told them that the terrorists did not force any of the prisoners to leave, but asked those interested to join them outside and those not ready to remain.
After gathering outside, the sect said to have already perfected their own escape root allegedly carried all their members in a vehicle already arranged for the purpose before sharing monies to the other inmates to assist them in their escape.
The source also said they were sternly warned that non-members of the group should not follow them in their vehicles or the person would be killed.
Another security source said many of those arrested were caught in the Kwali area of the FCT and the surrounding villages with the aid of vigilantes, hunters and farmers with coordination from security operatives.
As widely reported by the media, scores of terrorists raided the prison Tuesday night, freeing hundreds of inmates after shooting and bombing their way into the prison yard.
Daily Trust learnt that it took less than one hour for the insurgents to gain access to the facility while security operatives fled.
“The terrorists moved everyone out of the facility to an open place where they gave Quranic lectures for about 15 minutes before they started sharing transportation fares to their members whom they came to rescue. It was very clear they came prepared,” a security source said.
A news outlet, FIJ, reported that the jailbreakers spoke in Ebira, in addition to Fulani and Hausa.
The report said the insurgents had so much free time on their hands that they first delivered a 15-minute lecture to inmates before setting them free, an insider who witnessed the horror show from start to finish has recounted.
“Quite a few of them understand Ebira; they preached in Ebira, Fulani and Hausa. And there were many of them. They surrounded the facility, as big and well-equipped as it is, and still had more than 20 of them inside the prison. That tells you there were so many of them,” it quoted a source.
Residents mull leaving Kuje correctional area
Meanwhile, some residents living in the Kuje correctional centre area have started considering relocating following the attack.
Our correspondent who visited the area observed that security operatives at different checkpoints were conducting stop and search on vehicles and combing nearby bushes, markets and other places.
Our correspondent observed that some commuters appeared apprehensive when troops of 176 Guards Battalion attached to a checkpoint, were searching vehicles moving out the satellite town.
A resident, Babafemi Olagoke, explained that he and his neighbours were watching WAFCON match when the incident happened Tuesday night.
He added that many residents of Shetuko fled to the nearby bush and hid there when sounds of the explosives continued.
Another resident who identified herself simply as Mrs Rafat said continuous gunshots and sounds of explosions woke her and children up.
Mrs Yetunde Ajanaku, one of the residents, said she had informed her husband to let them relocate from the area in order to avoid apprehension.
She said the terrorists had earlier distributed some papers around the area notifying prison officials that they would strike one day.
‘’People would just pick their papers, look at it, see it and dropped it,’’ she added.
First published in Daily Trust
