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Kuje Prison attack: NCoS CG, top officials face sack as Senate insists, ‘insider conspiracy’ led to attack
As wild reactions continue to trail the terrorists’ attack on Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre on Tuesday night, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Haliru Nababa and other topnotch officials faces sack.
Terrorists who identified themselves as Islamic State of West African Province (ISWAP) claimed responsibility that they attacked the prison on Tuesday to release their members who were held in the facility.
While on a visit to the Custodial Centre on Thursday, Senate President, Dr. Ahmad Ibrahim Lawan alongside the leadership of the upper legislative Chamber expressed anger at the manner terrorists stormed the facility without being repelled by Security operatives stationed at the Centre.
As the Senate team took time to inspect the wanton destruction caused, they suspected insider conspiracy, saying that the terrorists took their time to open the prison doors for their targets.
Lawan said: “The way the operation was even carried out based on inspection made by us, strongly indicate insiders’ connivance which must be critically looked into.”
Meanwhile, the NCoS Comptroller General, Nababa reacting to series of questions disclosed that the number of Security personnel stationed at the facility as at the time terrorists stormed were 51, yet they were overpowered by the AK -47 bearing terrorists who were over 300 in number.
“Our men and other security operatives like the Army and Police, gave the attackers the required counter offensive which made them to suffer casualty of about four terrorists”, he said.
Nababa who was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari on 19th February, 2021 and later confirmed as substantive CG-NCoS by the Senate could not satisfactorily explain what transpired, hence, Senators continue to vent dissatisfaction at the role played by the security agents on the night of the attack.
Lawmakers wondered how the Custodial Centre lacked a functional Close Circuit Television (CCTV) which incapacitated management and security from preventing and responding appropriately to the attack that led to escape of over 800 inmates.
Ahmad Lawan, his Deputy, Ovie Omo – Agege and other principal officers carpeted the CG and described the attack as very disappointing and a failure of security system.
What baffled the lawmakers at a point was the access into the facility by over
300 ISWAP fighters on foot, while they forced their ways into the various cells and released over 800 targeted inmates for over an hour without any counter offensive from security personnel on ground.
Lawan maintained: “This is unacceptable and will not be condoned . For CCTV and other relevant tracking gadgets not to be functional are highly disturbing and dangerous for the security of inmates and residents of the Federal Capital Territory.
The 51 security operatives as submitted by CG NCS, got overwhelmed by the 300 attackers armed with AK 47 and Improvised Explosives Device ( IEDs).
The Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege said killing four out of 300 is nothing to write home about.
“I’ m personally disturbed by this your submission. Killing just four terrorists out of 300 is nothing to me.
“This type of poor response to
heinous crime of this nature is not deterring in anyway because they can attack again “, he said .
By way of resolution, the Senate President told the NCS CG to ensure proposals such as procurement of CCTV and other tracking gadgets as well as enough security personnel at the centre in 2023 budget.
He said the Senate Committee on Interior and other security related ones, will very soon summon the CG and other relevant authorities on it Custodial Centres for post mortem review of the incidences and required way out.
“There should be an end to all these issues of jail break or outright attacks .
“Our failing security system must be reviewed and required technology brought to bear because all maximum and medium correctional centres must have functional CCTV and well secured at all times against any form of attack”, he stressed.
On Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari visited Kuje prison while on his way to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, where he was flown to Dakar, Senegal, for the International Development Association (IDA) for Africa Summit.
While at the Centre, he expressed disappointment at the failure of security intelligence and demanded a comprehensive security report of the incident.
The security report, a source close to the the villa who spoke with CAPITAL POST on Thursday said, it may lead to the sack of Comptroller General, Haliru Nababa.
Also, an Abuja based lawyer and Security expert, Barrister Joshua Emmanuel, who shared his perspective, heaped blame on the Comptroller General, saying there may have been inexplicable careless and incompetence by the prison boss, hence, he should be fired without delay.
He said: “Once a suspect is kept in the Nigerian Custodial Centre, it becomes the responsibility of the officials of the Centre to provide security of the inmates and the facilities.”
As it were, how did terrorists have unfettered access to the Kuje Custodial Centre, and release hardened criminals. I hope President Muhammadu Buhari would be serious for once to fire the prison boss and those who are complicit in the attack”, he maintained.
The President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio has commended Senator Basheer Lado, for redefining the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters, stating that, for the first time in a long while, the office is fully meeting its expectations.
Speaking during his visit to the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Senate Matters accompanied by distinguished senators, Akpabio described the visit as a significant step in strengthening Executive-Legislative relations.
He praised the Special Adviser and his team for maintaining the confidentiality of communications between the President and Senate, and also, ensuring a seamless flow of information. He further emphasized that the office is now more result-oriented.
Additionally, he acknowledged the office’s diligent efforts in tracking all Bills passed by the Senate and assented to by the President, underscoring its critical role in legislative efficiency.
Expressing his satisfaction, Akpabio noted that he and the Senate delegation were proud of the office’s achievements and looked forward to sustaining the existing cordial and productive relationship between the Executive and the Legislature throughout the administration.
In recognition of his exemplary leadership, Senator Lado presented an Award of Excellence to Senator Akpabio.
In his remarks, Senator Lado reaffirmed his commitment to fostering a harmonious working relationship between the Executive and the Legislature. He lauded Akpabio for his unwavering dedication to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda—defending it with clarity, articulating it with passion, and advancing it through legislative action.
Ahead of the 2025 political party Congresses, Plateau State Chapter of the Labour Party (LP) stakeholders has endorsed the defection of the candidate of the party in the 2023 general elections and the leader of Justice and Rebirth, Barr Gyang Zi SAN, to the All Progressive Congress (APC) with the view to key into the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
They made the call in a communique issued at the end of the enlarge meeting of the stakeholders from Plateau North senatorial zone at the residence of Barr. Gyang Zi in Rayfield Jos.
The communique which was jointly signed by Dr. Ayiki Sati Director General, Justice and Rebirth and
Barr. Samuel Galadima- 2024 Chairmanship candidate of Jos East LGA among others said the call became imperative on the sideline of the leadership tussle at the National Level which violates the core principles and values for the formation of the Party as an alternative for Nigeria for the protection, sustenance of democracy and Social Justice.
They regretted that the leadership tussle has also divided the party into factions leaving party loyalists and supporters in the state of despondency and confusion not knowing where they belong.
Our correspondent reports that the gathering included LP candidates from the 2023/2024 general elections, party executives, and support groups from the six local government areas of the Northern Senatorial District.
Besides, the focus of the discussions was centered on the state of the Labour Party at both national and state levels and the need for political realignment ahead of the 2025 party congresses and conventions.
The stakeholders further frowned at the structural weaknesses in LP and resolved to advise Barr Gyang Zi, to leave the party and join the APC while expressing confidence that the APC would provide him with a platform to advance good governance in the state .
The communique also emphasized the importance of political consultations, particularly with APC leaders at both state and national levels. It called for collaboration with Plateau State APC leaders, including Minister of Humanitarian Affairs Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe, Sen. Simon Bako Lalong, Sen. Diket Plang, and other party officials.
According to the communique, supporters of Barr Gyang Zi also pledged to mobilize grassroots support for the APC, stating that their leader’s defection would strengthen the party in the state.
They urged the APC leadership to formally receive Gyang Zi and his supporters into the party, marking their official transition from the Labour Party.
Stakeholders also reiterated the need for inclusive governance, ensuring that youths, women, and less privileged individuals are sidelined in the democratic process and accordingly officially denounced their membership in the Labour Party, declaring their support for the APC.
They assured that all LP structures aligned with Gyang Zi would follow suit, shifting their loyalty to the ruling party in the state and at the National level.
Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo, has extended his heartfelt felicitation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, on the occasion of his 73rd birthday.
Governor Ododo in statement signed by his special adviser on media, Ismaila Isah described President Tinubu as a statesman whose leadership and dedication to national development continue to inspire hope and progress across Nigeria.
He commended the President’s unwavering commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda, which is driving economic reforms, strengthening national unity, and advancing the nation’s democratic values.
“On behalf of the government and people of Kogi State, I celebrate Mr President and our father on this special day. Your resilience, visionary leadership, and patriotism have laid a strong foundation for Nigeria’s growth. We deeply appreciate your tireless efforts in repositioning our country for sustainable development,” Governor Ododo stated.
He further reaffirmed his support for President Tinubu’s administration and prayed for continued wisdom, strength, and good health for the President as he leads Nigeria toward greater prosperity, sustainable development, peace and stability.
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