Two inmates who escaped from the Medium Security Correctional Centre, Kuje, on July 5, following an attack on the prison facility have been recaptured.
The two inmates were recaptured at different locations, according to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and the police command in Niger.
Recall that scores of terrorists had on July 5, launched a daring attack on the facility and bombed their way in. They freed 879 inmates among whom were about 64 who had terror-related charges preferred against them.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, the Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi said that one of the fleeing terror suspects, Suleiman Sidi, was arrested in the early hours of Monday July 11.
Babafemi said that Sidi was arrested at Area 1 motor park, in the Federal Capital Territory while attempting to board a commercial vehicle to Maiduguri, Borno state.
“When he was searched, three wraps of cannabis sativa were found on him. During preliminary interview, the wanted terror suspect confirmed he was remanded at the Kuje Correctional Centre for terrorism and robbery charges
“He added that he was indeed one of the inmates who escaped from the facility last Tuesday,” the NDLEA spokesman said.
Meanwhile, retired Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa, the NDLEA Chairman, has commended officers and men of the FCT Command of the Agency for the arrest.
Babafemi quoted Marwa as directing that the arrested fugitive should be immediately handed over to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS).
Meanwhile, the police command in Niger has recaptured one of the inmates in Suleja who escaped during the recent jailbreak at the Kuje Medium Security Correctional Centre in Abuja on July 5.
A statement issued in Minna on Monday by the command’s Public Relation’s Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun, said that a patrol team on surveillance between the General Hospital, Suleja and Bakassi, arrested the fugitive on July 9 at 8:30p.m.
He explained that based on credible intelligence, the police patrol team stormed an identified compound and arrested one Kazeem Murtala aged 54 years.
During interrogation, the inmate confessed that he escaped from Kuje Custodial Center during the attack and had been in custody for two years for an offence he committed.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, Niger Command, Mr Monday Bala Kuryas, has commended the efforts of the patrol team.
The statement quoted Kuryas as directing that the inmate should be handed back to the custodial center, which has been complied with.
The CP equally appreciated members of the public for giving useful intelligence to the Police that facilitated the quick arrest of the fleeing fugitive.
The command urged residents to continue to support with reliable information that could aid in apprehending other suspected criminals and to combat crime and criminality in the state.