Kuje Prison: Detained Boko Haram Suspects Have Disappeared — Defence Minister

Following the attack on Kije Prison in Abuja on Tuesday night, the Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi has disclosed that all the Boko Haram suspects detained in the facility have escaped.

Daily Trust reports that while speaking with journalists after taking an assessment tour of the facility, the minister stated that an actual figure of inmates who were taken would be given.

Magashi added that efforts were being made to ensure that all those who escaped are returned.

Speaking further, he stated that they believe that those behind the attack are members of Boko Haram as suspects of the terrorist group who were being detained have disappeared.

"The attack started around 10:30 pm. They came in their numbers gained entrance into the prison and they released some of the inmates and which we are now following to see the kind of inmates that they have released.

"Very soon, we will give you the correct figure of the inmates that were taken. Aside from that, we are trying to see what we can do to ensure that all escapees are returned back.

"The prison is accommodating about 994 inmates and over 600 escaped. Many people have been recaptured and brought back to the prison.

"Maybe by the close of the day, more will have been captured and returned.

"I think everything is under control. The people who came to do this activity, from the records, we believe they belong to a particular group.

"Most likely, they are Boko Haram members because we have a sizeable number of Boko Haram suspects in detention, and presently we cannot locate any of them.

“I think they are about 64 in the prison and none of them now is available they have all escaped", he said.