Ali Ndume, lawmaker representing Borno south senatorial district, says he is “disappointed” in the response of leaders regarding the attack on a correctional facility in Kuje council area of the federal capital territory (FCT). Gunmen attacked the prison with explosives on Tuesday night, freeing hundreds of inmates — including “all Boko Haram suspects” Speaking on the attack in an interview with Channels Television on Thursday, the chairman, senate committee on army, said he is disappointed with the response of leaders on the attack, adding that it’s the responsibility of those who are in power to secure and protect the lives of the citizens. “Honestly we are in trouble. I’m worried. We should be talking about how to address this matter and what citizens should do, not for people to be speculating,” he said.   “I’m really disappointed with the response of so many leaders. And it’s our responsibility; the responsibility of the government is the security and welfare of its citizens. “And you have leaders respond as if it’s a casual thing; as if it’s not their responsibility. It is our responsibility. I feel pained to be called a senator and I’m almost like helpless.” He added that President Muhammadu Buhari should do more on efforts to tackle insecurity.   “A president, or whoever is responsible, is supposed to sit some people down and get results. Not just making statements. I said it before. When it comes to issues like this, it is the president himself that is supposed to be talking to Nigerians, not some adviser on press,” he said. “Religiously, or by the time you take responsibility and ask people to elect you as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, anything that happens to any Nigerian, God will hold you accountable. The president knows that. “This thing is getting out of hand. Even coming here now, you have to be looking left, right and centre. And this is Abuja. You can imagine in Abuja, people had the audacity to come and do things and get away with it.”

  A former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has condemned the terrorists attack at Kuje prisons in Abuja, saying the military leadership has failed Nigerians. ISWAP terrorists stormed the Kuje correctional center in Abuja, blowing up the gates with dynamite and freeing over 750 inmates with about 6 inmates reportedly killed during the invasion. The terrorists group has since claimed responsibility for the attacks which has attracted flurry of wide condemnation both from national and international organizations. President Buhari who visited the scene yesterday lamented the intelligence failure, vowing to get to the root of the matter. The Minister of Defense, Ibrahim Magashi disclosed to newsmen that all “64 Boko Haram inmates have been freed in the attacks.” Reacting, Fani-Kayode blamed the attack on incompetent leadership of the nation’s military, saying it is time they must go. He said, “It is increasingly difficult to comprehend the glaring incompetence and lack of patriotism, professionalism, diligence and courage of the leadership of the Nigerian Armed Forces.” In a series of rhetorical questions, Fani-Kayode wondered what has become of Nigeria’s military. “Is this the same military that once proudly led ECOMOG to victory in the West African sub-region? “Is this the same military that once gave the Chadians and Libyans a bloody nose? “Is this the same military that once faced down the Cameronians and French in the Bakassi Peninsular? “Is this the same military that once kept us safe and protected us from enemies within and without? “Is this the same military that was once led by Murtala Mohammed, Benjamin Adekunle, Olusegun Obasanjo, T.Y. Danjuma, Sani Abacha and Ibrahim Babangida. “Is this the same military that was once regarded as the most powerful and effective fighting force in sub-saharan Africa? “Is this the same military that politicians and our people once spoke of with respect and in whispered tones? “How are the mighty fallen! “Who will defend us from these foreign barbarians and invaders now? “Who will stand against the terrorists that have plagued our land and that slaughter our people like Sallah rams and Christmas turkeys? “This is no longer about party politics. “This is now about saving the lives of our people who are being butchered and terrorized in a most horrendous way. “The entire military high command and the Chief of Army Staff have to go and the Federal Government has to do FAR more to protect our people. We owe them that much. “To criticise our own where we have gone wrong, though rare and unfashionable, is an act of patriotism and not one of rebellion. Nigeria must come FIRST!” He said.

  Senate President Ahmad Lawan has said Tuesday’s attack on the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre by terrorists speaks volumes about the failure of the country’s security architecture. Lawan stated this on Thursday when he led a delegation of the leadership of the Senate to assess the level of attack on the correctional facility. Lawmakers on the Senate delegation, which also had some members of the Committee on National Security and Intelligence, were conducted around the facility by the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa. According to the Senate President, an attack on the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, could only have been possible the collaboration of insiders within the nation’s correctional system. He faulted the Nigerian Correctional Service for not providing Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) at the Kuje correctional facility and others across the country. The Senate President asked the Comptroller General of the NCS to include a request for the provision of CCTV across maximum and medium correctional centers across the country in its 2023 budget proposal to the National Assembly for approval. Speaking after an assessment of the correctional facility, Lawan said, “The attack on this correctional facility is symptomatic of the failure of security failure. The attack is only a culmination of the failure. “We were told that an estimated 300 terrorists attacked this facility. They came on foot, and I believe they should have been detected. “In the first place, three hundred people will not come for an operation like this without planning. Planning must have taken a week, a month or a bit more. I believe that our security agencies should have picked this from their tracking systems in the FCT. “Secondly, having gone round the facility itself, we are disappointed that this facility does not have Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, something that would record and give you details of what is happening and sometimes record the events. “This is a medium security custodial center, how on earth in the FCT facility of this magnitude we don’t have CCTV? It means we can say that all other medium security centers across the country do not have CCTV. “We have asked the Comptroller General of Correctional Centre to ensure that the request for CCTV at the maximum and medium custodial centres of the country are included in their 2023 budget because this is essential and indispensable. “Now, as this facility lacks a functional CCTV, there’s no record of what happened, except narration. But if we had CCTV, at least the records would have been there and analysis made, and arrest will be based on the information from the CCTV. “Thirdly, going from one cell to another to release people, specifically, those that are known to be insurgents, tells a lot of story. “It may not be far away from an insider job, someone who is either working in this place or must have worked here. “I think we have to look deeper into what happened, so that we find the culprits, because when things like this happens, then there should be sanctions. “Where people fail to do their job properly, and they have been given that responsibility, they should be asked to take responsibility. “If people don’t take responsibility for their failure, then it means nobody would bother to do what is expected of their office or the job that the person has been given. “Having this kind of situation today in the FCT, that we have criminals who are free now all over the city is very dangerous and you can never have peace of mind. “The FCT has the seat of government, and today that seat is not safe. So, we have to do whatever it takes to get everybody back.”

  A leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, has asked the Service Chiefs and Defence Minister, Bashir Magashi, to resign owing to the persistent attacks on institutions. In a statement, Isiguzoro, who is Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, maintained that those charged with the responsibilities of securing the nation have failed. He said this in a statement issued on Thursday in Abakiliki, Ebonyi capital. Isiguzoro described the Kuje attack as a national disaster and shame to the nation, charging President Muhammadu Buhari to improve the security so as not to endanger the lives of Nigerians. “If that is not done, Nigerians will continue to live in fear. Mr. President has chosen to be adamant and has continue to appoint service chiefs from one side of the nation. “So, we wish to condemn and express our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives ones in Kuje Prison attack by suspected members of Boko Haram sect. “Also, we also wish to use this opportunity to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to do the needful by dismissing the service Chiefs including the minister for Defense and make fresh appointment in which the three major regions will be represented. “Just three months ago bandits attacked an Abuja-Kaduna train, killed dozens of passengers and abducted many and until now those abducted have not been released or rescued by the military. “Last week, in what we considered as major blow was the killing of 37 soldiers and policemen in Shiroro in Niger state by terrorists. “And two days ago, it was Kuje Prison and the convoy of Mr. President. We are no longer talking of the Chibok Girls and the rest, again”, he explained.