Over 400 Inmates Still on the Run Ten Months after Kuje Prison Attack

Ten months have passed since the attack on the Kuje medium custodial centre in the Federal Capital Territory, yet more than 400 fleeing inmates remain at large, posing a significant challenge to law enforcement agencies.

The Nigerian Correctional Service’s website recently displayed the names, images, and prison identification numbers of the wanted inmates, serving as a reminder of the ongoing manhunt. Out of the original 900 inmates who escaped during the jailbreak on July 5, 2022, 460 are yet to be recaptured, while 26 have been successfully apprehended.

64 high-profile Boko Haram terrorists released

The scale of the escape was alarming, with 64 high-profile Boko Haram terrorists among the fugitives. Shortly after the incident, the Islamic State in West Africa Province claimed responsibility and released a video substantiating its involvement, further intensifying concerns about national security.

In response to the crisis, security operatives launched an extensive manhunt and managed to recapture approximately 421 of the escapees. However, the remaining fugitives continue to elude capture, highlighting the complex and ongoing nature of the task at hand.

How the attack happened According to sources from the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), the terrorists used high-capacity bombs to blast through four entry and exit points of the prison. They also engaged the security agents in a gun battle that lasted for over two hours.

The attackers reportedly overpowered the agents who went into hiding for fear for their lives. The NCS website has published the names, images, and prison identification numbers of the fleeing inmates who are now declared wanted.

Among the escaped prisoners were 15 notorious Boko Haram commanders who were involved in a deadly attack on a train in March that killed eight people and kidnapped 68 others.

Concerned citizens are worried that the escape of over 400 inmates poses a significant challenge to law enforcement agencies in Nigeria. They say these fugitives, many of whom were convicted of serious crimes, pose a potential threat to public safety. And the longer they remain at large, the higher the risk of their involvement in further criminal activities, jeopardizing the well-being of citizens.