The Kuje Prison attack – Buhari’s question

By Rasheed Yusuf

The attack on Kuje Medium Correctional centre in Abuja, Federal Capital territory, Nigeria has come and we have started coming to realize that we can forget it. The president was surprised and disappointed with the security intelligence report and the actions of the Security apparatus to such reports, if available.

It is unfortunate that the innocent residents of Kuje, a serene area of Abuja were thrown to sleepless nights on the day of this attack and the subsequent days. The name of the town has once again appeared several times on Google search engine. The fundamental issues remain unattended; the location of the correctional centre has brought more questions than answers. For a correctional centre, where high profile criminals and detainees are kept to share seamless boundaries with Business centres like Hotels, and residential places, seems too porous in a country where insurgency has become the order of the day.

The road leading to the correctional centre can be termed as deplorable or dilapidated, this will surely make it almost impossible for the security personnel to gain access to the location, even when willing to prevent or curb such attack.

The security personnel might have been overwhelmed by the incessant killings and insurgencies in the country, at least coming from the attack of the Presidential advance party to Katsina state for the Sallah celebration.

Most of the correctional centres in the country have been only renovated and painted from outside, since they were constructed pre independence era and at Independence Day. Those were built, not too close to residential areas, as at the period. But unfortunately, the sorrounding and neighbourhood of the correctional centres have been allocated, both legally and illegally to the teeming populace, who could afford them.

What is the importance of a correctional centre among the populace and what is the need for allowing such populace to live very close to such centres? If those centres are actually correctional centres, should we have employed teachers to put such inmates through some form of education and vocational training? Why should an arrested terrorist be kept in same custody with a goat thief?

Our judiciary system has not been of any assistance to the decongestion of the correctional centres, many of the inmates have been awaiting trails for over 15 years, our laws have been responsible for judicial prosecutions and delays of justices. The legislative arms of government have refused to realize that our correctional centres are not well equipped or fortified. This was corroborated by the expression of shock by the Senate President on the non availability of CCTV cameras at the centres.

The Zamfara State Governor, Gov Bello Matawalle has hit the nail on its head, when he maintained that the best way to secure the country is for all citizens to procure and get licensed ammunition, because we have got to a level of optimality in our security failure.

Nigeria Population is projected at about 400m in the year 2050, by the United Nations. This is posing a major threat to the existence of the country, as an entity, arising from the expected high level of hunger and insecurity.

May God help Nigerians to help Nigeria.

Rasheed Yusuf

rasheedyusuf.d@gmail.com