The Nigerian Army has attributed the Kuje prison jailbreak, which occurred on July 5, 2022, to the absence of Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) and a low fence at the Kuje Custodian Centre.
This disclosure was made during an investigation conducted by the House of Representatives Joint Committees on Reformatory Institutions, Justice, Police Affairs, Interior, and Human Rights on Wednesday.
Approximately 900 inmates escaped from the Abuja Correctional Centre during an attack suspected to be carried out by members of the Boko Haram sect.
Maj. Peter Ogbuinya, Assistant Director of Commercial Law at the Army Directorate of Legal Services, stated in Abuja that the Kuje prison’s location in a built-up area compounded security challenges.
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He noted the lack of CCTV cameras and inadequate fencing, which could not be addressed before the incident.
Ogbuinya clarified that the Nigerian Army provided assistance to correctional centers but wasn’t the sole security agency deployed to Kuje prison.
Efforts were made by the Army before the jailbreak, including correspondence with the Comptroller General of the Correctional Service about security enhancements. The possibility of insider involvement is under investigation.
Mrs. Ayoola Daniel, representing the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, expressed support for efforts to decongest prisons. She highlighted the transfer of correctional services to the concurrent list, urging states to address prison congestion.
