A preliminary report of the investigation into the attack on the prison in Kuje, Abuja, has been sent to President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Atregbesola, who disclosed this Thursday, said the report identifies “all those whose actions or inactions led to that unfortunate incident” and such officials will be punished.
“A preliminary report on what happened in Kuje has been sent to the President but a more detailed comprehensive report will come at the end of the investigation,” Mr Aregbesola told journalists after Thursday’s meeting of the National Security Council in Abuja.
“We have identified all those whose action or inaction led to that unfortunate incident and those who have sacked their responsibility will have to face the consequences of their actions,” he said.
Mr Aregbesola said sufficient efforts were made by intelligence agencies to forestall the attack on the prison but there was a problem with the will to carry out instructions by security operatives.
The attack on Kuje prison was reported on the first week of July
Over 800 prison inmates escaped during the attack with about half of them still at large. Those still at large include over 60 Boko Haram suspects.
The attack was carried out by ISWAP, a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, which later released a video of the incident. The terrorists used explosives and guns during the attack. Four prisoners and a security official were also killed.
Over 400 of the fugitive detainees were found, according to Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) spokesperson Umar Abubakar, while 443 remain at large.
The NCS chief acknowledged that they had received intelligence on a potential attack, but that the Kuje custodial centre had not specifically been mentioned. He added that the prison was not built to withstand such external attack.
On the day of the attack, there were more than 30 armed personnel present. The security guards comprised police officers, immigration officers, civil defense officials, and prison personnel.