By Adadainfo
The House of Representatives Thursday mandated its committees on National Security and Intelligence, Interior, Reformatory Services, Defence, Army, Airforce, Navy and Police to investigate the causes, dimensions and effects of the attack on Kuje Custodial Centre, and report back within four weeks.
The House also urged the federal government to implement the recommendations of the National Security Summit organised by the leadership of the House of Representatives in 2021, with broad national stakeholder participation.
It expressed worry that the Kuje Custodial Centre attack and its terrible outcome along with several related crimes against national security are on the increase despite stakeholders’ commitment towards equipping the national security enforcement and intelligence community with significant appropriation of funds.
The House, while considering a motion on the need to investigate the terrorist attack on the facility, sponsored by the member representing Kano Municipal Federal Constituency, Hon Sha’aban Sharada, noted that July 6 attack was a major breach of security of the FCT.
He said that public peace and safety would continue to be threatened if urgent steps were not taken to address the situation.
According to Sharada, the minister of defence, Major General (retd) Bashir Salihi Magashi, while on an assessment visit to the scene of the incident, stated that over 600 inmates, including 64 Boko Haram suspects, out of about 994 inmates accommodated in the custodial Centre escaped.
He said President Muhammadu Buhari expressed disappointment over the embarrassing development and directed a comprehensive investigation to address the situation.
Sharada noted that the development made the country and the Federal Capital Territory, in particular, vulnerable and under the fear of attacks, and all sorts of threats due to the large number of criminal escapees in the country.
