ABUJA (Nigeria) — On Wednesday, the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the raid on an Abuja prison that released around 440 prisoners. This raises fears that insurgents may be venturing outside their northeastern enclaves.
Shuaib Belgore (permanent secretary to the interior ministry), told journalists that a security guard was killed in the Abuja prison raid on Tuesday night. Three others were also injured. He claimed that Boko Haram terrorists attacked members held in the prison.
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Belgore stated that they came to find their conspirators but were able to break out of prison and escape with other prisoners. However, many of them have returned.
According to the prison service, 879 of the inmates fled. 443 are still at large while the rest have been captured. It said that four inmates had been killed and sixteen others were injured.
Belgore stated, “They have reported themselves directly to the police. Some we have succeeded in rescuing from the bushes where their hiding places were,”
This raid highlights Nigeria’s security problems, which are spreading from northern regions where insurgents are rampant and gangs are rampant.
The charred remains of several vehicles, some with bullet holes, were seen outside the prison on Wednesday morning. This is a testimony to the gun battles that took place in the area during the raid.
As armed security officers brought in an inmate with a limp and a punctured leg, a helicopter flew overhead. Another inmate was taken into prison.
On his way to Daura, Nigeria, to prepare for the Muslim Eid al-Adha holiday in Islam, President Muhammadu Buhari visited the prison. He asked questions about the prison’s intelligence and requested a report.
On Wednesday, Buhari’s convoy, which was carrying protocol officers, security guards and media officers, was also attacked as it headed to his hometown in Katsina, the northern state. Buhari was not present in the convoy.
