LOW FENCE AND ABSENCE OF CCTV CAMERAS RESPONSIBLE FOR KUJE JAIL BREAK- ARMY 21-03-24
By Sadiq Aminu The Nigeria Army says low fence and the absence of CCTV cameras was largely responsible for the Kuje prison break on 5th of July 2022 that resulted to the escape of several inmates
The representative of the Chief of Army Staff, Major Peter Ogbuinya, made the revelation when he appeared before House of Representatives Joint Committees on Reformatory Institutions, Justice, Police Affairs, Interior, and Human Rights.
Major Ogbuinya said after the prison break, the army observed that the place where Kuje prison is located is more of a built-up area.
“We observed issues of low fencing and a lack of CCTV cameras within the area, but these were unable to be put in place before the incident.”
The representative of the Chief of Army who noted that the Nigeria Army was not the only security agency deployed to Kuje prison, said the Nigerian Army was only playing a complimentary role to the correctional centers.
According to him, the day the correctional center was attacked the Army had a rotation of the troops.
“The day it took place, we had a rotation of troops, and it was that day the incident took place. I wouldn’t want to comment on the possibility of having an insider”
“Prior to that incident, the Nigerian army wrote a series of letters to the Comptroller General of the Correctional Service concerning our observations and things that would enhance security.”
The representative of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Ayoola Daniel, said the ministry was in support of the committee to decongest the prison.
The Chairman of the Joint Committees, Mr. Chinedu Ogah, said the correctional service is key to Nigeria’s security.
Mr. Ogah while urging stakeholders to make effective contributions to do what was needed, said the committee would do everything possible by ensuring the decongestion of the prisons
The committee is investigating the whereabouts of inmates who escaped from Kuje Correctional Center.