The successful attack on the Kuje correctional center last week that lead to the escape of many terrorists of the Boko Haram group and other criminal inmates of the facility may have come and gone, but the dust it raised is yet to settle.
A source who works at the Kuje facility have confirmed to Clariform that soldiers were indeed withdrawn from the correctional center recently, and that the affairs of the prison authority is run in ways that suggest some form compromise on the side of the Nigerian military and other security agencies.
Following the jailbreak, which the Islamic State of West Africa (ISWAP) immediately claimed responsibility, there were indications that the security agencies could have done more to thwart the attack.
This is particularly on the hills of some known facts that there was enough intelligence and information even in the public domain that clearly indicated that such an attack was imminent.
Nevertheless, the Nigerian military did visibly nothing to nip it in the board, but failed woefully to stop such a brazing attack in a correctional center within Nigeria`s federal capital territory.
The rumours which followed this heinous onslaught on the facility included the possibility that the military had ample information that would have completely prevented the attack, but failed, refused or neglected to act on them.
These were not just flying rumours, but were further strengthened by multiple media sources, including some allegations in a video posted by Chief Fani Kayode, which the Defence Headquarters rose to deny.
Particularly, the Defence Headquarters was dismissal of Fani Kayode`s allegations that the Department of State Security (DSS) informed the military about an impending attack on Kuje Correctional Centre and a previous attack on a Kaduna-Abuja passenger train.
The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, in a statement on Saturday, described the allegations by a former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, as wild and unsubstantiated.
Akpor said that Fani-Kayode made allegations in a social media video following the recent spate of terrorist attacks particularly, the attack on the Kuje Custodial Centre.
He fragrantly denied Chief Fani-Kayode allegation that soldiers who were on guard in the facility were withdrawn shortly before the prison was attacked.
In their defence, Jimmy Akpor said that Fani-Kayode was merely playing to the gallery as he was not in any position to know whether the DSS notified the military of any attack.
However, an independent source who works with the Kuje correctional center have now confirmed to Clariform that truly some soldiers were withdrawn from the Kuje correctional center recently, before the attack.
The source however, further said that the soldiers who were removed were exchanged with some other soldiers in replacement.
The source also did not say with certainty that swapping of the soldiers was connected to the attack, the sources did not have enough information to make that direct connection.
The source however, also noted, “this particular incident will certainly not be the last. This country is in serious trouble under this government.”
Notable Quotes:
The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, in a statement said, “It may not be impossible that such a claim is part of a calculated attempt to cause division and rivalry amongst all government agencies that have been working collaboratively in addressing issues of insecurity in the country.
“The claim that soldiers were withdrawn from the Kuje Correctional Custodial Centre before the attack is laughable.
“It is sad that Fani-Kayode is ignorant of whose responsibility it is to guard prison,” he said.
The defence spokesman said that Fani-Kayode had also claimed that the military took no action on the recent Shiroro terrorists’ attack, which resulted in the unfortunate death of some soldiers, policemen and civilians.
He said it was also an attempt to smear the military and create bad blood between service personnel and the military high command.
According toAkpor, it is a despicable statement that does not honour the sacrifices of the gallant officers and soldiers that paid the supreme price while defending the the mining community.
“What a shame! Fani-Kayode is encouraged to pay more attention to the weekly briefs by Defence Media Operations.
“Defence Media Operations gives weekly briefs and updates on operations being conducted across the country; press releases on military operations are also made when the need arises.
“Fani-Kayode is also called to refresh himself on the constitutional roles of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“It is pertinent to state that the armed forces have toiled to sustain and nurture our democracy, hence the same military cannot contemplate a coup d`etat, as alluded to by Fani-Kayode in his video,” he added.
Akpor said the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, had always stressed the unalloyed loyalty of the armed forces to the President, Commander-in-Chief and the Nigerian Constitution.
He reiterated the commitment of the military to ensuring the sustenance of democratic governance, warning political actors to depart from evil ways ahead of the 2023 general elections.
He also accused Fani-Kayode of attempting to malign the leadership of the military, by creating an impression that while junior military commanders and non-commissioned officers were working hard, senior commanders were doing nothing.
According to him, this is indeed a difficult time for the armed forces and Nigerians as a whole.
“It is not time for attention-seeking individuals to cause needless distractions.
“Members of the public are, therefore, urged to ignore Fani-Kayode and continue to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities promptly to law enforcement agencies,” he added.
