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How Attackers Shared Money, Preached Before Freeing Kuje Inmates

Published

4 years ago

July 8, 2022

The terrorists who attacked the Medium Security Custodial Center in the Kuje area of the Federal Capital Territory Tuesday night were said to have shared transportation fares to the inmates to aid their escape.

Over 800 inmates were said to have escaped when the terrorists struck, but 400 of them have been recaptured while some of the inmates returned to the prison of their own volition.

Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) had claimed the attack.

Daily Trust reliably gathered that after the attackers successfully gained entrance into the prison yard, they told the inmates that were ready to escape to come out.

One of the security officials who coordinated the rescue mission that recaptured many of the inmates confided in one of our correspondents that some of the recaptured prisoners told them that the terrorists did not force any of the prisoners to leave, but asked those interested to join them outside and those not ready to remain.

After gathering outside, the sect said to have already perfected their own escape root allegedly carried all their members in a vehicle already arranged for the purpose before sharing monies to the other inmates to assist them in their escape.

The source also said they were sternly warned that non-members of the group should not follow them in their vehicles or the person would be killed.

Another security source said many of those arrested were caught in the Kwali area of the FCT and the surrounding villages with the aid of vigilantes, hunters and farmers with coordination from security operatives.

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As widely reported by the media, scores of terrorists raided the prison Tuesday night, freeing hundreds of inmates after shooting and bombing their way into the prison yard.

Daily Trust learnt that it took less than one hour for the insurgents to gain access to the facility while security operatives fled.

“The terrorists moved everyone out of the facility to an open place where they gave Quranic lectures for about 15 minutes before they started sharing transportation fares to their members whom they came to rescue. It was very clear they came prepared,” a security source said.

A news outlet, FIJ, reported that the jailbreakers spoke in Ebira, in addition to Fulani and Hausa.

The report said the insurgents had so much free time on their hands that they first delivered a 15-minute lecture to inmates before setting them free, an insider who witnessed the horror show from start to finish has recounted.

“Quite a few of them understand Ebira; they preached in Ebira, Fulani and Hausa. And there were many of them. They surrounded the facility, as big and well-equipped as it is, and still had more than 20 of them inside the prison. That tells you there were so many of them,” it quoted a source.

Residents mull leaving Kuje correctional area

Meanwhile, some residents living in the Kuje correctional centre area have started considering relocating following the attack.

Our correspondent who visited the area observed that security operatives at different checkpoints were conducting stop and search on vehicles and combing nearby bushes, markets and other places.

Our correspondent observed that some commuters appeared apprehensive when troops of 176 Guards Battalion attached to a checkpoint, were searching vehicles moving out the satellite town.

A resident, Babafemi Olagoke, explained that he and his neighbours were watching WAFCON match when the incident happened Tuesday night.

He added that many residents of Shetuko fled to the nearby bush and hid there when sounds of the explosives continued.

Another resident who identified herself simply as Mrs Rafat said continuous gunshots and sounds of explosions woke her and children up.

Mrs Yetunde Ajanaku, one of the residents, said she had informed her husband to let them relocate from the area in order to avoid apprehension.

She said the terrorists had earlier distributed some papers around the area notifying prison officials that they would strike one day.

‘’People would just pick their papers, look at it, see it and dropped it,’’ she added.

FG goes after fleeing inmates

The federal government yesterday says it is leaving no stone unturned to recapture all the fleeing inmates.

A statement by Sola Fasure, a media adviser to Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said all checkpoints had been put on alert in an effort to track the fleeing inmates.

The attackers, who used explosive devices and came through the main entrance and the fence of the facility respectively, also left three personnel of the service seriously injured.

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A total of 879 inmates escaped from the facility during the attack with about 70 of them suspected members of the Boko Haram terrorist group.

The minister said, “We are working with the Ministry of Defence and the Office of the National Security Adviser as well as other intelligence and security agencies to ensure that the attackers and the escaped inmates are captured and returned to custody.

“As we speak, security personnel are combing the whole area, up to a distance of 100 kilometres radius, looking for them.

“All checkpoints nationwide have been put on alert. More than 400 of them have been brought in and more are still coming.”

Aregbesola appealed to all residents to be calm but vigilant, urging them to report all suspicious individuals and activities to the nearest security agency around them.

“We appeal also to doctors and medical workers to treat and then immediately report anyone with gunshot wounds to the law enforcement agency,” he added.

Meanwhile, the minister has directed that a full investigation into the incident be carried out, adding that anyone found complicit would be dealt with.

The statement also said the minister had directed that all correctional facilities in the country be fortified; that all personnel be on alert to avoid recurrence.

Relevant authorities must be sanctioned — Senate President

Senate President Ahmad Lawan yesterday said the Tuesday attack could only have been possible with the collaboration of insiders within the nation’s correctional system.

Lawan spoke when he led a delegation of the Senate leadership to access the level of damage at the correctional facility.

He also faulted the Nigerian Correctional Service for not providing Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) at the facility and others across the country.

The senate president asked the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, to include a request for the provision of CCTV across maximum and medium correctional centres across the country in its 2023 budget proposal to the National Assembly for approval.

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Lawan said, “The attack on this correctional facility is symptomatic of the failure of security failure. The attack is only a culmination of the failure.

“We were told that an estimated 300 terrorists attacked this facility. They came on foot, and I believe they should have been detected.

“In the first place, 300 people will not come for an operation like this without planning. Planning must have taken a week, a month or a bit more.

“I believe that our security agencies should have picked this from their tracking systems in the FCT.

“Secondly, having gone round the facility itself, we are disappointed that this facility does not have Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras, something that would record and give you details of what is happening and sometimes record the events.

“Now, as this facility lacks a functional CCTV, there’s no record of what happened, except narration. But if we had CCTV, at least the records would have been there and analysis made, and arrest will be based on the information from the CCTV.

“Thirdly, going from one cell to another to release people, specifically, those that are known to be insurgents, tells a lot of stories. It may not be far away from an insider job, someone who is either working in this place or must have worked here.”

Lawan said a proper investigation must be conducted and those found wanting to be sanctioned.

“Where people fail to do their job properly, and they have been given that responsibility, they should be asked to take responsibility.

“If people don’t take responsibility for their failure, then it means nobody would bother to do what is expected of their office or the job that the person has been given,” he said.

Service chiefs, minister must go — Ohanaeze

The leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has asked the service chiefs and the Minister of Defence, Bashir Salihi Magashi, to resign their positions owing to the persistent insecurities attacks on institutions, especially in the North.

Failure to do so, the group advised President Muhammadu to dismissing them and make fresh appointments where the three major regions will be represented.

Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, in a statement issued yesterday described the attack as a national disaster and a shame to the nation’s security operatives.

The group charged the president to stop one sided appointments, which it noted, had continued to cause more harm to the lives and property of the citizens.

“If that is not done, Nigerians will continue to live in fear until something good is done by Mr President who has chosen to be adamant and has continued to appoint service chiefs from one side of the nation.

“So we wish to condemn and express our condolences to the families of those who lost their loved ones in the Kuje prison attack by suspected members of Boko Haram insurgency.

“Also, we also wish to use this opportunity to call on President Muhammadu to do the needful by dismissing the service chiefs including the Minister of Defence, and make fresh appointments where the three major regions will be represented,” the group added.

DAILY TRUST

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Military Officers who nabbed terrorists that escaped from Kuje Prison in danger — Lawyer

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Nigeria Launches 11-Character Digital Postcode System for Every Addressable Building

Published

5 hours ago

October 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani

Nigeria Launches 11-Character Digital Postcode System for Every Addressable Building

The Federal Government has launched Nigeria’s National Digital Alphanumeric Postcode System, giving addressable buildings across the country unique 11-character digital postcodes linked to their precise geographical locations.

The system was officially launched on October 1, 2026, through the Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST) as part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s addressing infrastructure and make it easier to identify homes, businesses, schools, farms, offices and other locations.

The new digital postcode system uses Geographic Information System technology to provide a precise and verifiable digital reference for buildings. Unlike the traditional postcode system, which generally identifies broader geographical areas, the new system is designed to pinpoint individual addressable buildings.

The 11-character code is organised across five geographical levels: state, local government area, district, area and building. The characters progressively narrow the location down to a specific building.

The Federal Government said the system is designed to address longstanding problems associated with inaccurate or incomplete addresses, including missed deliveries and difficulties faced by emergency responders, businesses and government agencies.

Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Bosun Tijani, said accurate location information was essential to improving commerce, public services and economic participation.

Tijani urged Nigerians to find, save and use their digital postcodes, saying the system could help businesses reach customers, enable families to provide precise locations during emergencies and support government agencies in delivering services.

The government estimates that Nigeria loses between ₦50 billion and ₦80 billion annually through missed and failed deliveries associated with poor addressing. Officials said the impact extends beyond logistics to emergency response, security operations, financial services, business activities and government planning.

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The NIPOST digital postcode belongs to a building rather than an individual. This means the code remains associated with the property even when residents or businesses occupying it change.

The new system is also designed to complement existing street addresses and mapping services rather than replace them. Users can provide their digital postcode alongside their conventional address when receiving deliveries or accessing services.

Nigerians can search for their postcode through the official Digital Postcode platform or mobile application. Users can search for their building or use location services to identify the building where they are.

Where a building cannot be found, users can submit its location and address details for verification and assignment of a postcode.

The service allows individuals to find, save and share their postcodes with family members, businesses, delivery companies and other service providers that require accurate location information.

Organisations can also integrate the digital postcode into their platforms for functions including address verification, customer and merchant onboarding, logistics, deliveries and location-based services.

The system is expected to have significant applications in e-commerce and last-mile delivery, where inaccurate addresses and dependence on informal landmarks can cause delays and additional costs.

Emergency response agencies are also expected to benefit from the system because responders can use a standard location reference to identify specific buildings during emergencies.

Security agencies, financial institutions, government departments and other organisations can similarly use the location data for planning, verification and service delivery.

The launch followed preparatory work by NIPOST, including a nationwide postcode validation exercise aimed at improving the accuracy and reliability of location data ahead of the national rollout.

The Federal Government has described the initiative as an important part of Nigeria’s digital infrastructure, with potential applications in logistics, e-commerce, emergency services, security, financial inclusion, urban planning and digital public services.

NIPOST is encouraging Nigerians to identify their 11-character digital postcode and begin using it whenever precise location information is required.

The rollout is expected to provide Nigeria with a common digital location reference and reduce some of the challenges associated with identifying and reaching specific buildings across the country.

Nigeria Launches 11-Character Digital Postcode System for Every Addressable Building

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Military Personnel Begin Receiving FG-Approved Salary Increase

Published

5 hours ago

October 2, 2026

Trends Admin

Military Personnel Begin Receiving FG-Approved Salary Increase

Personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces have begun receiving their September salaries with the Federal Government-approved salary increase reflected in their payments, the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed.

The Director of Defence Information, Maj.-Gen. Samaila Uba, confirmed the development on Wednesday, saying the implementation marked the fulfilment of the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare and conditions of service of military personnel.

The revised military salary structure followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval in August and took effect from September 1, 2026.

Under the approved arrangement, personnel from the rank of Private to Sergeant are entitled to an 80 per cent salary increase, while those from Warrant Officer to Colonel are to receive a 50 per cent increase.

Officers from the rank of Brigadier-General and above are to receive a 30 per cent increase.

The Federal Government had said the adjustment would raise the annual salary bill for the Armed Forces from about ₦660 billion to ₦924 billion, representing an additional ₦264 billion in personnel expenditure.

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The implementation comes as the military continues operations against terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, oil theft and other security threats across the country.

The government has linked the salary review to broader efforts to improve troop welfare and conditions of service, alongside investments in military infrastructure, equipment and manpower.

The Defence Headquarters’ confirmation also comes amid the Federal Government’s wider expansion of the Armed Forces. The Nigerian Army is being expanded from eight to 12 divisions, while additional personnel are being recruited to strengthen the military’s operational capacity.

In a related development, the Federal Government is also implementing infrastructure projects aimed at improving accommodation and living conditions for military personnel and their families.

The revised pay structure is expected to provide increased remuneration for serving personnel according to their ranks, while further implementation details will determine how the new salary package is reflected across the different services and categories of personnel.

The Army, Navy and Air Force remain covered by the revised salary arrangement as the government continues its broader military welfare programme.

Military Personnel Begin Receiving FG-Approved Salary Increase

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2027 Hajj: Nigeria Secures 10,000 Extra Slots, Allocation Hits 60,000

Published

6 hours ago

October 2, 2026

Trends Admin

2027 Hajj: Nigeria Secures 10,000 Extra Slots, Allocation Hits 60,000

Nigeria has secured an additional 10,000 Hajj slots from Saudi Arabia, raising the country’s total allocation for the 2027 Hajj pilgrimage from 50,000 to 60,000 pilgrims.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) announced the development on Thursday, October 1, 2026, saying the additional allocation followed sustained engagements between the Federal Government and Saudi Arabian authorities.

Of the additional 10,000 slots, 7,500 have been allocated to State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies and Commissions, while the remaining 2,500 slots have been assigned to seven lead licensed private tour operator companies.

The additional allocation represents a 20 per cent increase over Nigeria’s previously approved 50,000-slot quota for the 2027 Hajj.

Before the increase, Nigeria’s allocation stood at 50,000 pilgrims, comprising 35,000 slots for government-sponsored pilgrims and 15,000 for licensed private tour operators.

The latest approval followed an earlier decision by Saudi Arabia to reject Nigeria’s request for additional slots. NAHCON had announced in September that the request was turned down due to capacity limitations, structural constraints at the holy sites and the Kingdom’s policy of adhering to approved country quotas.

Further engagements between Nigerian officials and the Saudi authorities subsequently resulted in the additional allocation.

NAHCON Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government and Saudi authorities for the additional slots.

Yusuf also acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, and Deputy Minister Dr Abdul Fattah bin Sulaiman Mashat, for the Kingdom’s cooperation.

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The NAHCON chairman said the development reflected the longstanding relationship between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, particularly their cooperation in facilitating the Hajj pilgrimage for Nigerian Muslims.

He assured intending pilgrims and other stakeholders that the additional slots would be administered transparently and judiciously, in line with Nigerian and Saudi Arabian regulations and operational requirements.

NAHCON also reiterated its commitment to making Hajj accessible and affordable to Nigerians, while maintaining standards in service delivery, accountability and operational efficiency.

The commission said it would work with state pilgrims’ welfare boards, agencies and commissions, as well as licensed private tour operators, to implement the expanded allocation.

The increase comes as preparations for the 2027 Hajj are already underway. NAHCON had earlier required the biometric data of intending pilgrims to be uploaded to the designated Nusuk-Masar platform in line with requirements from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

The additional allocation means NAHCON and relevant state and private pilgrimage operators will now have to incorporate the extra beneficiaries into the existing operational arrangements.

The precise breakdown of the additional 7,500 state-controlled slots among individual states was not contained in the commission’s announcement.

The new allocation is expected to provide additional places for Nigerian Muslims seeking to undertake the 2027 Hajj, following strong demand from intending pilgrims and requests for increased allocations.

NAHCON said it would continue working with Saudi authorities and other stakeholders to ensure a well-coordinated 2027 Hajj exercise and protect the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.

With the latest approval, Nigeria’s 2027 Hajj allocation now stands at 60,000 pilgrims, comprising the original 50,000 slots and the newly approved 10,000 additional places.