A top official of the Nigeria Correctional Service has debunked the report that suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari and some high-profile inmates have escaped Kuje Prison.
The official who spoke with Vanguard claimed that terrorists who bombed Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, Abuja on Tuesday night attempted to gain access to Kyari’s cell but were not successful.
The source also claimed that over 1,000 inmates escaped and when they did the headcount after the attack, only 111 inmates were still in the facility.
It was earlier reported that terrorists attacked the prison on Tuesday to release their members.
Other high personalities in the prison apart from Kyari are former governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, and Farouk Lawan, a former member of the House of Representatives.
A source that spoke with the platform on the condition of anonymity said: “Abba Kyari is not missing. The total population of the Kuje Prison inmates is about 1,476, and only 111 of the inmates refused to escape and decided to remain in the prison as 90 per cent of the inmates escaped.
“Those that decided not to escape included former Governor Jolly Nyame of Taraba state, Farouk Lawal, Abba Kyari and four of his officers: Retired AVM and also 107 other inmates whose jail term is less than three months remaining and some who are innocent of what they were accused of.
“There are also a few other good Senior Citizens. In total, over 1,300 inmates escaped. Only 111 refused to escape.”
“Any other press release that tells you there are more than 111 inmates in Kuje Prison today is completely false.
“All persons that volunteered to remain behind were counted by 2 a.m. today and the total is 111 persons.
“Expect the usual false press releases this morning from the security agencies trying to defend themselves and mislead Nigerians and the President.
“Don’t believe any of the security agencies that will start misleading the public with a false press release that it was ‘attempted jailbreak, terrorists were repelled, prisoners were re-arrested.”
