While reacting to some publicised claims by the former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fami-Kayode’s over the real occurrences that led to the Kuje Prison Siege, the Defence Headquarters, at the weekend had dismissed the allegations that the Department of State Security (DSS) had earlier notified the military about an impending attack on Kuje Correctional Centre and a previous attack on a Kaduna-Abuja passenger train while the latter did nothing about it.
The Director of Defence Information Maj.-Gen. Jimmy Akpor, in a statement on Saturday, described the allegations by Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, a former Minister of Aviation, as unsubstantiated and wild.
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Akpor had also insisted that it was a shame that Fani-Kayode is ignorant of whose responsibility it is to guard the prison. According to him, the former minister made the allegations in a social media video following the recent spate of terrorists’ attacks, especially the attack on the Kuje Custodial Centre.
Akpor said that Fani-Kayode was merely playing to the gallery as he wasn’t in any position to know whether the DSS informed the military of any attack.
He said, “It may not be impossible that such a claim is part of a calculated attempt to cause division and rivalry amongst all government agencies that have been working collaboratively in addressing issues of insecurity in the country.
“The claim that soldiers were withdrawn from the Kuje Correctional Custodial Centre before the attack is laughable.
“It’s sad that Fani-Kayode is ignorant of whose responsibility it is to guard the prison.”
Akpor said that Fani-Kayode had also claimed that the military took no action on the recent Shiroro terrorists’ attack, that resulted in the unfortunate death of some soldiers, policemen and civilians.
The defence spokesman said it was also an attempt to smear the military and form bad blood between service personnel and the military high command.
He added, “What a shame! Fani-Kayode is encouraged to pay more attention to the weekly briefs by Defence Media Operations.
“Defence Media Operations gives weekly briefs and updates on operations being conducted across the country; press releases on military operations are also made when the need arises.
“Fani-Kayode is also called to refresh himself on the constitutional roles of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“It’s pertinent to state that the armed forces have toiled to sustain and nurture our democracy, hence the same military cannot contemplate a coup d’etat, as alluded to by Fani-Kayode in his video.”