Aregbesola: We’ve had recurring attacks on prisons since #EndSARS protests

Rauf Aregbesola, minister of interior, says there have been recurring attacks on correctional facilities across the country since the #EndSARS protests.

Aregbesola said this on Tuesday when he paid a “surprise visit” to the Kirikiri maximum and medium-security custodial centres in Apapa, Lagos. 

In October 2020, Nigerians protested across major cities of the country against police brutality under the #EndSARS movement.

The protests, which eventually led to the proscription of the special anti-robbery squad (SARS), was later hijacked by hoodlums and correctional facilities and other government buildings were attacked. 

On July 5, gunmen launched an attack on the medium correctional facility in Kuje, federal capital territory (FCT) and freed over 500 inmates.

The July 5 attack was the latest in a string of jailbreaks in recent times.

A report by TheCable had revealed that the attack on the Kuje correctional facility was one of at least 14 jailbreaks under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

In a statement signed by Sola Fasure, his media adviser, Aregbesola said the ministry has successfully quelled all attacks organised by inmates since the #EndSARS protests.

He, however, commended security agencies for their efforts, and added that there will be improved measures to “fortify” the correctional facilities.

“We must acknowledge our servicemen and security agencies, who have sacrificed a lot to make this possible. We must equally charge them to remain eternally vigilant and continuously evolve strategies. And to define these strategies, we have to make decisions based not on fear, but on hard-earned wisdom,” he was quoted as saying. 

“I have also informed our officers and men here that they must fight to defend our institutions, territory and constitution. It also applies to all others wherever they are posted in Nigeria. The ragtag groups of opportunists must not be allowed to attack our institutions and get away. They must not live to tell the story.

“So far, no jailbreak by inmates has been successful. We have successfully quelled all of them. What we have reoccurring since the #EndSARS protests of October 2020 has been a mass of people attacking our facilities from outside and setting the inmates free.

“However, I have now directed the Controller General of the NCoS to double his efforts on intelligence gathering to fortify and prevent breaches to the Custodial Centres beyond the use of arms and force.”