The Jamar Ansarul Muslimina fi Biladi Sudan popularly known as Ansaru terrorists have been identified as being responsible for the attack on the Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja, the nation’s capital, SaharaReporters reports.
The facility was attacked by gunmen on Tuesday night.
Quoting security sources, SaharaReporters said the terrorists invaded the facility around 9:05 pm and operated till 1:30 am on Wednesday morning.
One of the sources added that over 800 inmates including terrorists escaped during the attack by gunmen.
The source further said over 500 Ansaru, Boko Haram members, and Fulani herdsmen were released.
“Out of 1005 inmates, only 150 or thereabout didn’t escape. Though everywhere is calm now and some inmates have started coming back.
“Against some media reports, Nyame, Kyari, Dariye, and Wadume are still around.
“The attack was carried out by the bandits’ affiliate of Ansaru, they removed all their members and that of Boko Haram in the prison. Also, all the Fulani boys accused of killing people were released, and over 500 terrorists. They all escaped,” the top source revealed.
The Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, had said none of the Boko Haram suspects detained at Kuje prison in Abuja was found after the attack on the facilities on Tuesday night.
Addressing journalists after taking an assessment tour of the facility, the minister said, “The attack started around 10:30 pm. They came in their numbers gained entrance into the prison and released some of the inmates and we are now following to see the kind of inmates that they have released.
“Very soon, we will give you the correct figure of the inmates that were taken. Aside from that, we are trying to see what we can do to ensure that all escapees are returned back.
“The prison is accommodating about 994 inmates and over 600 escaped. Many people have been recaptured and brought back to prison. Maybe by the close of the day, more will have been captured and returned.
“I think everything is under control. The people who came to do this activity, from the records, we believe they belong to a particular group. Most likely, they are Boko Haram members because we have a sizeable number of Boko Haram suspects in detention, and presently we cannot locate any of them.
“I think they are about 64 in the prison and none of them now is available, they have all escaped.”