Nigeria Content Online

About 120 prisoners who were recently freed when
members suspected to be of the Boko Haram sect attacked the Bauchi
Prison, have willingly returned to the prison.

The Minister of Interior, Emmanuel Ihenacho,
disclosed this in Abuja while explaining what the federal government
was doing to forestall the threat of further attacks from the religious
sect that has held the northern part of the country by the jugular
since last year.

Although details of the returnee prisoners could not
be ascertained as to whether they were awaiting trial prisoners (ATPs)
or those serving various sentences, a prison source who asked not to be
named said that they are prisoners serving light sentences.

Mr Ihenacho said the suspected Boko Haram members
actually launched the attack with the sole aim of freeing over 100 of
their members detained in the prison in relation to last year’s
disturbances that accounted for the death of about 1000 persons and
destruction of several property.

Safe and secure

The minister disagreed with those who have accused
the federal government of being helpless, saying it was committed to
the security of lives and property at the prison.

He added that there were a total of 759 inmates under
the prison’s guard, out of which 721 were freed during the jail break,
leaving a balance of just 28 inmates.

Mr Ihenacho did not explain what will happen to the
120 prisoners that returned on their volition, whether they will be
considered for future government pardon or not, but he did add that the
nationwide prison security system and related security agencies will
mount a concerted search to track down the fleeing inmates.

He promised that the government will reinforce the
monitoring of security situations in the contingent states of the
sect’s spread, especially those of the north-east geopolitical region,
to forestall a possible spill-over.

Clarifying on the casualty figure from the jailbreak, the minister
said only two un-identified persons were confirmed dead, along with a
mobile policeman, while three other prison officials who sustained
severe injuries are currently receiving treatments.