Kuje prison attack: Police arrest escapees in Adamawa, Benue

The police command in Adamawa says it has arrested one Abubakar Muhammad, 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.

Sikiru Akande, Adamawa police commissioner, handed over the escaped prisoner to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) on Thursday in Yola, the state capital.

He said the escapee was arrested by operatives of the command on Wednesday on his way to Bama in Borno.

“The suspect, who escaped from Kuje prison during the recent prison attack, was tracing his way to Bama local government area, Borno state, through Adamawa border,” Akande said.

“The suspect further confessed to have been in Kuje prison custody since 2017, following allegation of terrorism leveled against him.”

On its part, the Benue police command said its operatives arrested one Ebube Jude, identified as a prisoner who escaped from the Kuje correctional facility.

Sewuese Anene, spokesperson of the command, in a statement on Thursday, said the police received information on July 19 that a fugitive had arrived Makurdi, the Benue capital.

According to her, detectives were deployed to investigate the matter and Jude was arrested at George Akume way in Makurdi.

“During investigation, he confessed to have escaped from Kuje correctional centre during the jailbreak,” Anene said.

“He stated further that he is an awaiting trial inmate, standing trial in a case of culpable homicide involving his girlfriend.”

The police spokesperson added that the command had begun the process to hand him over to the NCoS for necessary action.

The development comes days after another escapee of the Kuje correctional facility was arrested by the Kaduna police command.

Mohammed Jalige, spokesperson of the Kaduna police command, had said the suspect was arrested on his way to Kano.