There was tension at the Kuje Custodial Centre in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) last Thursday as inmates reportedly staged a protest over alleged overcrowding and plans by the Federal Government to transfer about 300 suspected terrorists, including members of Boko Haram, Lakurawa and armed bandit groups, to the facility, SaharaReporters has learnt.
Multiple top security sources familiar with developments told SaharaReporters that the protest erupted after inmates received information that authorities were preparing to move hundreds of terrorism suspects into the already congested correctional facility.
According to the sources, inmates at the facility complained that the prison was already operating far beyond its approved capacity and could no longer accommodate additional detainees.
One of the sources told SaharaReporters that the protest occurred within the CTU custody section of the prison
“There was a protest in Kuje prison on Thursday at the CTU custody. The inmates were informed that some people would be moved out of their custody area because the government wanted to bring in about 300 suspected terrorists, including Boko Haram members, bandits and those described as Lakurawa terrorists,” the source said.
The source noted that the prison’s official capacity had long been exceeded.
“The capacity of the prison is about 550 inmates, but as of today there are approximately 1,150 people being held there. That means more than 600 inmates are sleeping on the ground because there are no beds or adequate accommodation facilities available,” the source added.
“The government has not made adequate provision for inmates who have already spent years in the facility. Some people have been here for five, 10 and even 12 years. Many of them have been sleeping on the ground for years because there are not enough beds. Now they want to bring another 300 suspected terrorists into the same facility.”
Another source explained that the Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) had already supplied hundreds of beds intended for the incoming detainees.
“The NSA has reportedly sent about 300 beds for these 300 suspected terrorists. That is one of the things that is causing concern among the inmates and some officials,” the source said.
“We are worried because they appear to be moving these people to a place that is not safe. Security personnel linked to the NSA’s office were sent to Kuje prison about two months ago. The security report, according to what we were told, indicated concerns about the possibility of a jailbreak at the facility.”
The source further questioned the rationale behind transferring a large number of terrorism suspects to a prison allegedly facing security concerns.
“So people are asking why they want to bring these terrorists here despite those security concerns. We are not safe at all,” the source alleged.
“Many inmates have spent their own money repairing cells and ensuring there is electricity in some sections of the facility. Now they want to displace those inmates from their cells without making any arrangements for where they will stay.”
“There is also no clear arrangement for the many inmates who are already sleeping on the ground. The protest is becoming intense because many inmates believe that the authorities are more interested in the increased allocations that may come with accommodating more inmates than in the welfare of the people already in custody,” the source alleged.
When SaharaReporters reached out to the National Spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Chief Superintendent of Corrections (CSC) Jane Osuji, she acknowledged that she was unable to respond at the time but requested that a message be sent.
“Please send the message; I will get back to you later,” she said.
However, as of the time of filing this report, Osuji had yet to respond.
On July 5, 2022, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters carried out a coordinated attack on Kuje prison, leading to a jailbreak that freed hundreds of inmates, including high-profile detainees. The assault exposed significant security lapses and remains one of Nigeria’s most serious prison breaks in recent history.
(SaharaReporters)