The Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Wednesday night claimed responsibility for the attack on Kuje Prison where no fewer than 800 inmates were freed in Abuja.
The terrorists claimed the responsibility in a video which was released on Wednesday night which was obtained by Africa Today News, New York.
In the said video, the terrorists showed how some of its members entered the Kuje prison while chanting ‘Allahu Akbar’.
The 38 seconds video showed that the terrorists shot indiscriminately before gaining access into the prison.
The Islamic State’s A’maq Agency was the first to upload the video on social media with a caption in Arabic. The caption read, ‘Fighters of Islamic State attacked Kuje prison in Abuja yesterday and succeeded in releasing many prisoners.’
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The video showed an elderly man and young men shouting while claiming responsibility for the attack with many fighters marching as vehicles and building were on fire.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Correctional Service said four inmates died and 879 escaped during the attack.
The Service Public Relations Officer, Mr Abubakar Umar, in a statement on Wednesday, said the attackers broke into the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, using explosive devices through the main entrance and the fence of the facility respectively.
He said that an official of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps attached to the Custodial Centre was killed, adding that three officials of the NCoS were seriously injured.
“A total of 879 inmates escaped from the facility during the unfortunate attack. As at the time of this report, 443 have been recaptured, 551 inmates are currently in custody, 443 inmates are still at large.
“Four inmates are dead and 16 inmates sustained various degree of injuries and are being treated at the moment. However, efforts are ongoing to recapture all fleeing inmates, ” Umar said.
He also confirmed that Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and other VIPs held in the facility did not escape.