On 2 July 2022, Boko Haram terrorists attacked Kuje Correctional Center, deploying bombs, Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) and General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) freeing no less than 600 inmates, including Boko Haram fighters detained at the facility. The attack led to the death of six inmates and one security personnel. As an organisation fostering peace and security in the Nigerian states, we publicly condemn this act because it promotes the inflow of criminals in the Abuja environs and makes it vulnerable to violent extremism which threatens the development of the nation.
This attack confirms the vulnerability of the Nigerian Security Forces due to a lack of capacity to sustain the security of human lives and properties. The security of the Nigerian people is of utmost importance to the development of the nation. The government should beef up security in Abuja and its environs to make sure the escaped prisoners do not fuel a security challenge that is harmful to human lives and undermine human dignity. We also use this opportunity to indulge the government to critically examine the roles of the two suspected officers of the Nigerian Police Force in the attack.
We call on the Nigerian security forces to come together to leverage modern technology to secure lives and property in the state. The government should also be responsible for using the security budget to achieve this objective for sustainable human security and development in the Nigerian states.
Building Blocks for Peace Foundation is a non-governmental organization working on conflict prevention, prevention of violent extremism, peacebuilding and sustainable development in Nigeria.
Building Blocks for Peace Foundation