Kuje prison attack: Police arrest another escapee in Niger

The Niger police command says it has arrested one John Ijamu, identified as an inmate who escaped from the Kuje correctional facility.

On July 5, gunmen attacked the Kuje correctional facility in the federal capital territory (FCT), and freed over 500 inmates, including suspected members of Boko Haram.

Wasiu Abiodun, police spokesman in the state, announced the arrest of the escapee in a statement on Monday.

According to Abiodun, the inmate was arrested on Sunday around 7pm along Mandela road, Minna.

“Police operatives attached to Counter Terrorist Unit (CTU) of the Command on July 31 at about 0700 hours arrested one John Ijamu of Apa LGA, Benue State, but residing along Mandela road, Minna,” NAN quoted him as saying.

“He confessed that he escaped from the custodial facility during the attack along with other inmates.”

According to the Niger police spokesman, the escapee said he was arrested in Abuja in 2020 for criminal conspiracy, armed robbery and receiving stolen property and he was remanded in the facility for the offence.

Commenting on the development, Monday Kuryas, commissioner of police in the state, commended the efforts of the patrol team.

Kuryas directed that the inmate should be handed back to the correctional centre.

The CP also urged residents to continue to support the police with reliable information that could aid in apprehending other suspected criminals and to combat crime in the state.

The development comes weeks after Kazeem Murtala, another escapee, was arrested by the Niger police command.