The Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) has claimed responsibility for the Tuesday night attack on Kuje Custodial Centre.
Gunmen attacked the facility which reportedly holds over 900 inmates. According to the minister of defence Bashir Magashi, some 64 Boko Haram members escaped including hundreds of others.
A video reportedly published on Wednesday by the Islamic State A’maq agency shows the onslaught on the facility.
When translated to English from Arabic, a writing on the social media post reads, “A video clip obtained by Amaq shows the first moments of the liberation of prisoners after Islamic State fighters stormed Kuje prison yesterday in Nigeria.”
PUNCH gathers that the prison attack was carried out to release top ISWAP commanders. It also learnt from an operation commander that the abduction of the Kaduna train passengers was carried out by the terrorists to compel the Federal Government to release their commanders.
“With the escape of the Boko Haram fighters, the kidnappers may soon release the Kaduna train passengers because their demand has been met tacitly as their attack on the prison was made very easy,” the source said.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari visited the facility on Wednesday. He said he was disappointed with the intelligence gathering capacity of security agencies.
“I am disappointed with the intelligence system. How can terrorists organise, have weapons, attack a security installation and get away with it? I am expecting a comprehensive report on this shocking incident,” he said.
