The Islamic State in West Africa Province, ISWAP, has said it was responsible for the attack on the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kuje, Abuja.
A recorded footage on Wednesday night, released a video of the terrorists group and some of its men attacking the facility.
In the 38 seconds video, fighters were seen marching in groups while vehicles and building were set ablaze.
An elderly man dressed in a native attire also joined the young men who were shouting on top of their voices.
The Islamic State’s A’maq Agency released the video with the caption: “Fighters of Islamic State attacked Kuje prison in Abuja yesterday and succeeded in freeing dozens of prisoners.”
Bashir Magashi, Minister of Defence, upon his visit to the prison had said the attackers headed towards the direction where Boko Haram suspects were kept.
Magashi said after the attack, none of the 64 Boko Haram suspects in custody could be found.
“The prison is accommodating about 994 inmates and over 600 escaped. Many people have been recaptured and brought back to the 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 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,” he had said.
Watch video here…
ISWAP release a video of the attack on Kuje Prison in Abuja pic.twitter.com/OW2HmCadgJ
— Murtala (@Murtalaibin) July 6, 2022