There is tension in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory Abuja as gunmen have taken over the popular Kuje Prisons.
There are high profile inmates and many who are awaiting trial at the custodial Center.
It was gathered that the gunmen arrived at the facility in the cover of the night and started attacks on nearby resident in the bid to gain access into the facility.
The Nigerian Correctional Service which confirmed the attack on the Custodial Centre said it collaborated with other agencies to confront the attackers.
The facility is located in the Kuje area council of the Federal Capital Territory.
Its spokesperson, Umar Abubakar, said the armed squad of the service in collaboration with other security agencies responded to the attack.
He, however, said calm had been returned to the area.
The statement was titled, “Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje attacked by gunmen.”
read, “I wish to confirm that at about 2200hrs, some yet-to-be-identified gunmen attacked the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kuje, in the Federal Capital Territory.
“However, men of the Armed Squad of the Nigerian Correctional Service and other security agencies attached to the Custodial Centre have responded and calm has been restored to the facility and the situation is under control.
“Other details will be made available soon.”
It is believed that the facility holds a lot of hardened criminals many of them associated with banditry and terrorism.