Metro
REVEALED: Kuje Prison Attackers Were Led By Ex-terrorist Inmates Who Knew Every Location
Published
3 years agoon
By
Editor
…Security man who took cover to save his life reveals inside story of the attack
…Says ‘attackers called nicknames of some officers, asking for their whereabouts’
Famous for accommodating rich and wealthy suspects and other VIP criminals, the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje Area Council of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city, is under fresh scrutiny.
Anxieties escalated last Tuesday when terrorists stormed the custodial centre in a night-time attack that featured the detonation of several bombs and the deployment of Rocket-Propelled Grenades (RPGs), General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) and an assortment of AK-49 assault rifles, AK-47 assault rifles, and service pistols.
Armed to the teeth, the audacious attackers overcame the might of the security agents, setting free more than 800 inmates held at the custodial centre. They killed one operative (a personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) identified as Iliyasu) and four inmates.
A security agent, who witnessed the attack, told Saturday Vanguard in an exclusive chat that he took cover to save his life when he saw how the custodial centre fell so cheaply into the terrorists; creating the opportunity for them to have a field day.
According to operative, he had to put his phone in silent mode and clutched the screen tightly to his belly to prevent the low intensity blue light from shining through, because he kept on receiving calls from his comrades and didn’t want his cover to be blown by any distraction.
He explained, “I received a call that night to come around the main entrance to the Custodial Centre because there was a problem. So, I asked a colleague who was around at that time to accompany me to the place.
“As we were about to start the car, we heard the bang of a detonated bomb and two more explosives were activated in a quick succession. At that point, we knew that letting the attackers catch a glimpse of us would be suicidal, so we took cover immediately.
READ ALSO: Kuje Jailbreak: Buhari Told To Sack Aregbesola Immediately, Investigate Withdrawal Of Soldiers
“I threw away the car key and the armoury key that was with us at that time, because we feared that would be looted without mercy, if we were caught by the terrorists.
“Expectedly, phone calls started pouring in from many of my contacts. I had to put the handset in silent mode and clutched the screen tightly to my stomach so that the light wouldn’t expose my hiding place.
“I believe the attackers were led by some of the ex-terrorists who had been released from custody, because they seemed to have a perfect knowledge of the location of everything as they carried out their attacks. They were even calling-out the nicknames of some officers and asking for their whereabouts.
“After about two hours of the rampage, I started hearing ‘Let us go! Let us go! Let us go!’ However, I didn’t feel very comfortable coming out of my hiding place just yet. So, I stayed put.
“After about 30 minutes, the terrorists made a return to the Custodial Centre. This time more reinforced than the first time. However, they couldn’t find any security operative on the ground so they left and didn’t return again.”
Asked what he would have done, if the terrorists had nabbed him, the security agent responded, “I thank God I was wearing a three-quarter shorts and a T-shirt. I would have told them that I was only an inmate running for his dear life.”
That is an embarrassment to the Nigerian state, because the highly successful jailbreak in Abuja, the seat of the country’s federal power, raises serious concern over the competence of those tasked to run the security agencies and the custodial centers.
In all, the attackers who have been identified as members of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) freed 64 of their fellows who were still detained at the custodial centre.
In addition to these high profile enemies of the State, hundreds of other suspected criminals also escaped detention and made their way back into the society. That’s unleashing bandits into the society again.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Terrorists Celebrate ISWAP Attack On Kuje Prison In Abuja [Video]
From time-to-time, violent crimes have been traced to these escapees in different parts of the country. Recall the case of 35-year-old Emmanuel Joseph, an ex-convict, who was nabbed barely two weeks ago for allegedly raping an 80-year-old woman, Mrs Alice Mogbonjubola, on Lotogbe Street, in Ondo State.
Curiously, the ISWAP terrorists who attacked the Kuje custodial centre did not attack homes in the neighbourhood.
However, while some terrified residents fled to “safe” places like church and mosque buildings, others locked up themselves and their family members at home, waiting for the worst to happen.
Sharing her experience with Saturday Vanguard, Ms. Mercy, a 25-year-old woman from Akwa Ibom, who resides within the estate directly behind the medium security custodial centre, said she was having her bath about 10:00pm when the attack began.
She said: “Not long after I returned home from my business, I entered the bathroom to have a bath when all of a sudden I heard the bang that followed the detonation of bombs in the neighbourhood. The impact shook many of the buildings in the area including mine.
“So, I fled the bathroom with soap bubbles all over my body, grabbed a wrapper and headed to the room where my children were sleeping. I mounted the youngest child on my back and held the other one tightly in my right hand.
“The sporadic gunshots where too much. I couldn’t flee my house because my children are too young. So, I stayed back waiting for the terrorists to attack us and kill me and my children. I was determined to die with them in my house than leave them behind and run. Fortunately, we were not attacked. So, I thank God for everything.”
This occurrence is not a coincidence, but a huge clue that the attackers were on a mission to set free some of their affiliates, who had been arrested for terrorism and kept in the Kuje custodial centre.
After 24 hours, only about 430 inmates have been recaptured, the Nigerian Correctional Service said. So, this means that an estimated 50 percent of escapee inmates; some of whom are terrorists, hardened criminals, kidnappers, carjackers, and rapists, are on the loose.
Going down history lane, it might take a long time to recapture the fugitives. This situation has already exacerbated tensions in the nation’s capital.
READ ALSO: Full List: Names Of 69 Boko Haram Escapees From Kuje Prison
In the aftermath of the attack, early on Wednesday morning, a viral advisory circulated among FCT residents via WhatsApp, cautioning people against giving car lift to strangers or stopping in lonely places.
“Good Morning AD, Kindly take note of the following: 300 terrorists attacked Kuje priison with RPGs, GPMGs, releasing hundreds of prisoners, leaving only a few after roll call by 2:00am. Boko Haram terrorists were all released. Attack lasted for two hours. They attacked through the back of the prison, planted bombs around the prison.
“If you are in Abuja today, be careful who you pick on the road. Don’t stop at lonely places.
Open your door and shut it immediately. Watch while driving. Tell others where you are headed.
“This is real, these guys are definitely not going far less than 12 hours after escape. They are still within Abuja to blend before leaving.
“Please go and read National Security Strategy Acts in the Laws Of The Federation 1990 as amended. Our National Security has been compromised. Feel free to share with loved ones in Abuja, please,” the advisory read.
Apparently, fundamental problems dog the Kuje medium security custodial centre in Abuja some of which include overcrowding, physically old and dilapidated infrastructure as well as understaffing.
Above all of these issues, the recalcitrance of the custodial authorities appears to be most noticeable impediment to a virile correctional system in Nigeria.
An officer of the NCS in Kuje, who didn’t want his name in print because of fear of vilification, told Saturday Vanguard that he had a premonition of the attack and shared his concerns with the authorities, but nothing was done to address them.
Speaking, the officer said, “Just last week, I was discussing with my friend that I have a deep gut feeling that danger was in the horizon. I don’t know why I felt so.
READ ALSO: No Intelligence About Kuje Prison Break, Attackers Used Principle Of Surprise – NCoS
“I thought perhaps, it was because I was also concerned that the entrance to the custodial centre was gradually turning into a commercial hub.
“Someone had come to set up a Point-of-Sale (PoS) mini banking service near the main entrance to the custodial centre. Not long after, another person came around to do a similar thing, but I confronted the second fellow and asked him to quit. He withdraw his plans.
“I gave up after a third business person came near the first PoS shop to set up his own stand and added the sales of soft drinks and snacks to it.
“I was not against people engaging in business to eke a living, but the canopies and umbrellas they set up were not enabling us see far into the open distance.
“So, I reported to the authorities that the menace was blocking our vision and not allowing us to work well, but the management ignored the alarm, and today we have been caught unawares.”
A tally by Vanguard put the number of jailbreaks in the Kuje medium security custodial centre under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration stands as three attempts in seven years. So far, two attacks have been successful while one flopped woefully.
Prior to last Tuesday’s attack, on 24 June 2016, there was a jailbreak at the Kuje medium security custodial centre where two high profile inmates in the persons of Solomon Amodu and Maxwell Ajukwu who were both awaiting trial for homicide escaped from custody by scaling through the fence.
However, two months later, on 29 August 2016, another attempted jailbreak was foiled at the same custodial centre. The situation was quickly put under control and order was restored as no prisoner was injured or any property damaged in the facility.
Some analysts blame the slow, crooked justice system and the refusal of State governors to sign death warrants of some condemned inmates for creating room for the attacks on custodial centers across the country.
According to the President of Yoruba Council Worldwide, Aare Omoluabi Oladotun Hassan, prisoners deserve to be treated well; they are still part of society. If that cannot be achieved, the inmates of the custodial centres will begin to plot how to escape their conditions.
He said that to get a good start, there is a need to build more modern correctional facilities and work should be swiftly completed on the new structures under construction.
“There must be a strong security build up around our correctional centres in order to guide against further jailbreak that is so rampant nowadays.
“Most importantly, the prosecution of criminals must be speedily carried out and appropriate justice served on them in record time,” he told Vanguard.
To get round this, governments in some countries of the Western world are partnering with the private sector to build and operate friendly prisons. For instance, in the UK and North America, a private company, G4S runs some of the prisons.
Adopting non-custodial sentencing is another alternative, as is the case in Germany. So, Nigeria is not bereft of ideas on what to do to improve the security of its custodial centres.
Worrisome is also the fact that most of the awaiting trial inmates of custodial centres are there on state offences. It is, therefore, an anomaly to keep everybody in federal prisons, because the prison system ought to be decentralised in a country where there is true federalism.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Gumi’s Aide Reveals Those Behind Kuje Prison Attack
To ensure a holistic prison reform, some experts have advised that the National Assembly should delete the prison system from the Exclusive Legislative List and place it on the Concurrent List.
This could be the game-changer, because it will encourage the state governors to invest a chunk of their humongous security votes into the prison system and do so competitively amongst themselves.
VANGUARD
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Metro
Edo Govt Demolishes Building Owned by Suspected Cultist
Published
3 hours agoon
August 23, 2025By
Editor
The Governor Monday Okpebholo led-Edo State Government has demolished a house belonging to a suspected cultist.
The building was said to have been used for initiations in Egbaen community along Upper Siluko Road , Egor Local Government Area.
The building was said to belong to a suspected Maphite cult leader, and was said to be used as a base for cult initiation rites and ritual practices.
A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary ( CPS) to the governor, Fred Itua in Saturday said the operation was executed by the Edo State Special Security Squad, codenamed “Operation Flush Out Cultists and Kidnappers”, working in concert with various security agencies and community stakeholders.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Okpehbolo Suspends His Special Adviser On Oil And Gas
The statement said the, coordinator of the Edo State Security Squad, Idemudia Noah confirmed that the building was linked a leader of the Maphite cult group, who had allegedly converted the bungalow into a shrine and meeting point for illegal activities.
“We were here some days ago to seal up this building following allegations of cultism, ritual practices and other nefarious activities of suspected Maphite cult leader and his members,” the Edo State Security Squard said in the statement.
The squad leader also disclosed that despite the earlier sealing of the premises, intelligence reports confirmed that the suspects resumed their clandestine operations under the cover of darkness. Their continued defiance prompted the government’s decision to demolish the structure.
“We got credible information that the suspected cult leader Marvellous Adetarami and his members still gathered to have their meetings in this sealed bungalow, where the horrible shrine was discovered,” he revealed.
He said, “Neighbours and community members are all joyous seeing the building pulled down, as they have lived in fear following the suspect’s activities.”
Metro
My Husband Fought, Abandoned Me Cos’ I’m Barren, Woman Tells Court
Published
10 hours agoon
August 23, 2025By
Editor
A woman, Wasilat Saka, has pleaded with a Grade 1 Area Court in Kubwa, Abuja (Federal Capital Territory), to dissolve her marriage to her husband, Tajudeen Jimoh, over alleged abandonment and conflicting faith beliefs.
Wasilat told the court that she got married to Jimoh under Islamic Law on July 30, 2022, adding that their marriage did not produce any children.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), she alleged that Jimoh, who claimed to be a Muslim, abandoned her for months shortly after they got married while refusing to perform necessary Islamic rites.
READ ALSO:My Husband Travelled For 2 Yrs To Work, Returned With Only Plantain, Yam, Woman Tells Court
“My husband does not observe the five daily prayers and the Ramadan fast.
“We always quarrel and fight for these reasons.
“I beg the court to grant my request of divorce,” Wasilat said.
Jimoh was absent in court despite being served with the hearing notice.
The judge, Ibrahim Rufai, adjourned the case.
Metro
Our First Child Beat Me Blue And Black After My Wife Turned Them Against Me —Man
Published
10 hours agoon
August 23, 2025By
Editor
…That was the easiest way I made him pay their fees —Wife
Grade A Customary Court, Court 2, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has given judgment on a divorce suit brought before it by a man, Tajudeen, who dragged his wife, Kafayat, to court, accusing her of showing him no love or affection.
He added that she was troublesome and violent and that she refused to let him have peace of mind.
Tajudeen stated that Kafayat was defiant and never listened to him nor took instruction from him.
The plaintiff explained that the defendant was brutal and always sought every opportunity to fight and hurt him with any dangerous object within her reach.
READ ALSO:Our Children Wrote A Letter Disowning Me After My Husband Accused Me Of Dating Another Man —Wife
He added that she refused that he give their children proper training, and that she turned them against him.
According to him, the eldest of their children beat him till he was almost unconscious in the presence of his wife and she saw nothing bad in it.
Tajudeen explained that Kafayat constantly came to his office to fight and disgrace him.
The plaintiff stated that he was fed up with his wife’s unruly behaviour and thus pleaded for divorce.
Kafayat refused that their union be dissolved, stating that she and her husband jointly built their house.
READ ALSO:I No Longer Love My Husband, I Want Divorce —Wife
The defendant did not deny being defiant and in the habit of fighting her husband even in his office.
According to her, that was the only way she made her husband commit to his responsibilities in the home and, more importantly, pay their children’s school fees.
Tajudeen, in his evidence, said, “My wife and I got married under Islamic Law and I paid her bride price.
“My marriage to my wife is void of love and care. She made our home a hell to live in.
“I no longer have a say in our home because my wife is rebellious. She never listens to me nor takes orders from me. She would turn every argument between us into a fight.
READ ALSO:My Wife Denies Me Sex, Neglects Our Children —Husband
“Kafayat being a violent person always hits me with dangerous objects within her reach. The scars on my body tell the story.
“Much worse is the fact that my wife refused that I train our children and always instigates them against me.
“The strain in the relationship between our children and me led to our eldest child beating me till I almost fainted.
“My wife was present at the scene and she neither restrained our son nor rebuked him.
“My wife is still not satisfied and would come to my office to fight and disgrace me.
READ ALSO:My Wife Crushed My Scrotum, Arrested Me With The Police —Husband
“My lord, I have had enough of my wife and children’s waywardness and cannot take it any longer.
“I pray this honourable court to end our marriage and grant me custody of our children so that I can give them proper training.
“I also request an order restricting her from coming to my office to fight me.”
Kafayat in her response said: “What my husband said is not totally true.
READ ALSO:My Wife Harasses, Slaps Me All The Time —Husband
“We met in 1997 and he impregnated me.
“I started living with him although no marital rites were carried out on my behalf. He in addition did not pay my bride price.
“My lord, I do not agree to divorce because we both contributed towards building the house we are living in.
“It is true that I fight him even in his office. I discovered that was the only way I could force him to be committed to his responsibilities in the home and especially paying our children’s school fees.”
Ruling, the court president, Mrs. O. E. Owoseni, said there was no marriage to be dissolved since no customary marriage was held and no bride price was paid.
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