IBADAN, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has revealed that the terrorists who attacked the Kuje Correctional facility disarmed over 65 fully armed security operatives protecting the prison.
Mr Aregbesola claimed that the personnel, which comprised the Army, Air Force, NSCDC and others were heavily armed but still failed to defend the facility.
The minister appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on National Security and Intelligence on Monday.
Mr Aregbesola said he would have disclosed the type of weapons at the disposal of the men, however, he would not be doing that in the presence of the media. He called for an executive session.
“In that facility on that day of the invasion were 31 military personnel of the Nigerian army, five personnel of MOPOL 21, five personal of MOPOL 50, two personnel of counter-terrorism unit of the Nigeria police, two personnel of Kuje police division, seven personnel of Nigeria Immigration Service, three personnel of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), 10 personnel of correction armed square.
“These 65 people were there for the specific responsibility of assisting and preventing any attack and they were all armed.
“These 65 people were posted to protect the prison from any attack and they were all armed. Because of the presence of the press, I will not mention the specific arsenal at their disposal.
Following the request, the members of the Committee resolved that an executive session be held to interface with the minister.
It would be recalled that the terrorists suspected to be men of ISWAP attacked the prison and released known terrorists.
The House had mandated its committee to investigate the circumstances of the attack.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Committee, Ibrahim Sha’ban, in his speech disclosed that the committee visited the prison for an on-the-spot assessment.
He fumed at the non-appearance of some heads of security agencies.
The Committee, therefore, resolved to summon the security heads for the last time