Buhari Visits As Kuje Prison Boko Haram Looted N82 Million, $36,000 Cash Belonging To Inmates
President Muhammadu Buhari has visited the Kuje Prison, Abuja, the Nigeria‘s capital, after the Correctional facility was attacked by Boko Haram terrorists, even as Kuje prison officials claimed that the insurgents stole N82 million, $36,000 cash belonging to inmates.
According to media sources, inmates at the Kuje Correctional Centre are said to be threatening to protest after officials claimed large chunk their deposited cash with the facility had been carted away by Boko Haram insurgents, who attacked the facility on Tuesday night.
It was gathered that the money had been kept with at least five prison officials, including those manning the commissary, for several months.
“One prison guard told 13 inmates this afternoon that all the money they kept with him had been stolen,” an official was quoted as as saying.
“He bluntly told them that the N26 million is no longer in his possession”, the official added.
The prison, was attacked at about 10:30 p.m. by Boko Haram insurgents.
All suspected Boko Haram and bandits inmates, defence Minister, Bashir Magashi, confirmed.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari visited the facility for a few minutes on his way to the airport on a foreign trip to Senegal on Wednesday at about 3 p.m.
He inspected the extent of damage on the facility.
He then assured correctional officials of necessary support.
As the president departed the scene, prisoners began shouting that they had lost money during the raid, while some threatened violence should officials fail to return their cash.
“Yes, that is the problem we’re confronting now,” an official said when asked for corroboration Wednesday evening.
“Some people lost money in naira while some lost in dollars”, the official confirmed, according to media sources.
The official added that, “It’s those big men that are more enraged because they kept millions with the warders.
“About N82 million was declared missing and four people are looking for $36,000.
“We don’t know what the prison management will do about the matter because the money was not kept with the warders officially”, officials spoke the condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to comment on the matter.
