The Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, has said Boko Haram terrorists, who attacked Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre in Abuja on Tuesday, freed all the 64 insurgents in the facility.

Magashi made this known while speaking to newsmen during a visit to the correctional centre on Wednesday.

The Defence Minister said the Boko Haram insurgents invaded the Kuje prison to free their members from being held in detention.

He added that the Federal Government was working hard to ensure that other fleeing inmates were retrieved and kept in the facility.

“Most likely, they are Boko Haram because we have a sizeable number of Boko Harams that are in detention.

“Presently, we could not locate any of them. I think there are about 64 Boko Haram members in prison, they have all escaped,” Magashi stated.

The Defence Minister further stated that the Federal Government has been able to track down 600 inmates who have been recaptured.

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He said more inmates still hiding would be rearrested and sent back to the facility before the end of today.

“We are trying to see what we can do to ensure that all the escapees are brought back to the prison yard. I think the prison is an accommodation for about 994 inmate escapees.

“We have 600 already inside now and many people are being captured and brought back to the prison. Maybe by the close of the day, more would have been captured. I think everything is under control,” Magashi added.

The Star had earlier reported that Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Mr Shuaibu Belgore, said about 600 inmates escaped from the correctional centre after the attack.

Belgore said over 300 of the inmates have been retrieved, adding that more are still at large.

Belgore added that one operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) was killed, while three others were injured in the attack.

The Permanent Secretary further stated that the correctional centre houses 994 inmates, noting that the attack was carried out by Boko Haram terrorists.

The Star