Kuje attack: Nigeria’s security architecture must be reviewed – Falana

Human rights activist, Femi Falana, has called for the review of Nigeria’s security architecture following the latest attack on the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje in the Federal Capital Territory.

Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who made this call on the Channels Tv Sunrise Daily programme on Wednesday morning, said no one is safe in the country.

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The activist was reacting to the attack on the prison reportedly by over 300 terrorists who deployed sophisticated weapons as well as explosives to overpower security men and free inmates on Tuesday night.

Falana said, “These are very disturbing developments. Kuje is almost the most secure in our country of all our custodial centres.

“So, if terrorists could launch a successful attack and release prisoners, the situation calls for a general review of the security architecture in the country.

“These coordinated attacks clearly shows that there are serious problems that the government has refused to address the security of the country.”

He said apart from the regular press statements from the government condemning attacks, it had not dealt frontally with insecurity.

“Out there, nobody is secure. Every government must control the monopoly of violence but here, the criminal elements have taken over and they are now in firm control of violence in the country and that requires the authorities to sit down and address the problem,” the legal practitioner said.

He challenged the government at all levels to take intelligence reports more seriously, saying the government got regular intelligence reports but refused to act on them.

Over 1,000 inmates, including Boko Haram commanders, reportedly escaped from the facility following the attack.

Residents said sounds of gunshots were first heard around 10pm on Tuesday.

This attack is coming a few hours after the attack by terrorists on the advance team of President Muhammadu Buhari to Katsina State ahead of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations.

The convoy carrying the advance team of security guards, protocol and media officers of the State House was attacked in Dutsinma, Katsina State Tuesday evening.

Two persons were reportedly injured in the attack described by the presidency as an ambush.

Before the attack on the president’s convoy, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, Aminu Umar, and one other officer were killed in a clash with bandits at a village called Yauni in Zakka district, Safana Local Government Area of the state.