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Kuje Prison Attack: ‘Kaduna Train Passengers May Soon Be Released’

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Seven Major Things To Know About Kuje Prison Attack
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More details have emerged regarding the release of 15 dreaded Boko Haram commanders from Kuje Prison in Abuja by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists.

Naija News learned that the ISWAP terrorists bombed the facility fence and razed seven vehicles before gaining entry into the cells to free the prisoners on Tuesday night.

In a chat with The Punch, a top security source said the terrorists operated for about three hours without any response from the security operatives.

The source said the gunmen on gaining entrance into the prison, headed for a section of the facility where the Boko Haram commanders were held.

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He revealed that the terrorists were brought to Kuje prison from an insurgent special detention centre located in Shiroro, Niger state, for trial in Abuja a few weeks ago.

The source added that the ISWAP fighters called out the names of the Boko Haram commanders who were arrested by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) led by Abba Kyari.

He, however, stated that the attack was a coordinated raid with tacit official support, adding that the terrorists had advanced information about the facility.

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He said: “The deadly BH commanders were transferred from the detention facility in Shiroro for trial in Abuja. They were among the scores of terrorists arrested by the IRT when Kyari was the commander.

“On breaching the perimeters, the attackers went to a section of the custodial centre where their men were being held and called them out by name. That means they have advanced information about where the guys are. It is a coordinated raid with tacit official support.”

Speaking further with the newspaper, the source said ISWAP was also responsible for the abduction of the Kaduna train passengers in Kaduna on March 28, 2023.

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He asserted that the Kaduna attack was carried out by the terrorist group to compel the Federal Government to release their commanders.

According to him, the terrorists may soon release the Kaduna train passengers with the escape of the Boko Haram commanders.

He said: “With the escape of the BH fighters, the kidnappers may soon release the Kaduna train passengers because their demand has been met tacitly as their attack on the prison was made very easy.

“How could the attackers have succeeded if not for official compromise? This is a facility being guarded by a combined team of 176 Special Forces, Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army; Police Mobile Squadron 21; DSS, and the armed squad of the Nigeria Correctional Service numbering about 100.

“They also have about four Armoured Personnel Carriers and close circuit tv cameras which covered the perimeter fence. There were also three security checkpoints before the facility.

“Besides these security layers, the Nigeria Air Force base, Nigeria Immigration Service and NSCDC headquarters are just a few kilometres from the prison. If these are not enough to deter or thwart the attack, there is a Police Counter-Terrorism Unit at Zuba and the SFU unit in Gwagwalada. How come all these security structures failed to thwart the assault?”