Tension gripped the Kuje Custodial Centre in the Federal Capital Territory last Thursday as inmates staged a protest over alleged overcrowding and plans to transfer about 300 suspected terrorists to the facility.
The protest was triggered after inmates received information that authorities were preparing to move hundreds of terrorism suspects, including members of Boko Haram, Lakurawa and armed bandit groups, into the already congested prison.
Security sources said the protest occurred within the CTU custody section of the prison. Inmates complained that the facility was operating far beyond its approved capacity and could no longer accommodate additional detainees.
According to one source, the prison has an official capacity of about 550 inmates but currently holds approximately 1,150 people. That means more than 600 inmates are sleeping on the ground due to lack of beds and adequate accommodation.
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The source noted that many inmates have spent years in the facility without proper provisions. Some have been in custody for five, 10 and even 12 years, sleeping on the floor because there are not enough beds. Now they face displacement from their cells to make room for the incoming suspects.
Another source said the Office of the National Security Adviser had supplied hundreds of beds for the incoming detainees, which heightened concerns among inmates and some officials. The source added that security personnel linked to the NSA’s office were deployed to Kuje prison about two months ago after security reports flagged concerns about the possibility of a jailbreak at the facility.
Inmates also questioned why authorities would transfer a large number of terrorism suspects to a prison allegedly facing security challenges. Many said they had spent their own money repairing cells and providing electricity in some sections, and now faced displacement without clear arrangements for alternative accommodation.
The Nigerian Correctional Service was contacted for comment but had not responded as of press time.
Kuje prison was attacked on July 5, 2022 by ISWAP fighters in a coordinated assault that led to a jailbreak and the release of hundreds of inmates, including high-profile detainees. The incident exposed major security lapses and remains one of Nigeria’s most serious prison breaks in recent history.
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