Contrary to the news making the rounds that suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police,Abba Kyari, was missing after suspected terrorists attacked Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, where he was kept, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, Umar Abubakar, says he is still in their custody.
Abubakar who made this known in a statement in the early hours of Wednesday, noted that Kyari has not been moved from the Kuje prison.
“He is still in our custody. Nothing happened to him. He has not been moved”, he said.
He also said the armed squad of the service in collaboration with other security agencies responded to the attack.
The statement read, “I wish to confirm that at about 2200hrs, some yet-to-be-identified gunmen attacked the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, in the Federal Capital Territory.
“However, men of the Armed Squad of the Nigerian Correctional Service and other security agencies attached to the Custodial Centre have responded and calm has been restored to the facility and the situation is under control.
“Other details will be made available soon.”
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Mr Shuaibu Belgore, has confirmed that about 600 inmates escaped from the Kuje Correctional Centre following Tuesday evening’s attack.
Belgore who gave the confirmation during a visit to the facility, explained that over 300 of the inmates have been retrieved.
He suspected that the gunmen attacked the facility to rescue their terrorism co-conspirators.
The Permanent Secretary added that one person died and three others were injured during the attack.
Recall this custodial centre houses embattled super cop, Abba Kyari, former governor Jolly Nyame of Taraba state and Hon Farouk Lawan, a former member of the House of Representatives.
