Witnesses Explain How Terrorists Attacked Abuja’s Kuje Prison

Terrorists’ successful attack on Abuja’s Kuje jail has been described by eyewitnesses.

Recall that the attack happened on Tuesday leading to the release of 64 Boko Haram members.

The Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) has since claimed responsibility for the attack.

A resident identified as Chukwuemeka Micheal in a chat with Premium Times said the attack on Kuje prison is one of his scariest moments as an adult.

Micheal stated that he and his friend noticed an unusual presence of unknown groups of men along the street of the prison on Tuesday night.

He said, “It happened around this area here because we were outside waiting for bikes to take us out because my house is behind the prison here.

“Some guys were there smoking around the prison area. They were there smoking and enjoying themselves. Then my friend told me that we should start walking out because he does not understand what is going on there. I told him ‘no, let’s wait for the bike.’ It was not up to minutes after he told me, that we started hearing gunshots and so we ran.

“I slept under my bed, and the military man that was on the road entered my house. He removed his uniform and hid the guns. They (the guns used by the assailants) are like machines, they are way faster than the normal ones Nigerians use.

“It was directly entering the compound even our street was covered with bullets and gunshots and all these things. It was so terrible we couldn’t believe it. We thought a situation like this would end quickly! They started from nine o’clock till like midnight. It was really serious. Soldiers couldn’t even do anything, they were running.”

Another resident who spoke on condition of anonymity, also stated that the prison street was filled with strange faces on Tuesday night.

He said, “Around the prison border, some officers suspected fishy activities going on around. So, they called one to question him. I don’t know whether he was questioned or not. So I think eventually the person we saw that came was a spy for them.”

A resident said, “They gave N2,000 each to the prisoners that escaped and there was someone amongst the prisoners who were shouting Allahu Akbar repeatedly

“There was a man they rescued, who couldn’t escape and wanted to return the money. He was the one that told people the amount they gave them.”