Jail breaks: Sack Defence, lnterior Ministers now, HURIWA tells Buhari

For alleged criminal negligence, incompetence and dereliction of duties as regards jail breaks, a civil rights advocacy group has called for the heads of Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola and the Defence Minister, retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi.

The also called for a broad-based judicial panel of inquiry on prison breaks in the country to be constituted immediately.

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) which made the call, said Aregbesola must be sacked with immediate effect over his failure to put an end to the incessant attacks on prisons in the country.

The National Coordinator, Emmanuel Onwubiko, who said in a statement obtained by Persecondnews, condemned in strong terms the jailbreaks that had occurred under Aregbesola’s watch.

“HURIWA demands the sacking of the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; and his Defence counterpart, Bashir Magashi; for perpetual incompetence.

“We also call for a broad-based judicial panel of inquiry on prison breaks in Nigeria to be constituted,” it said.

In the last five years, there have been over 15 jailbreaks under the former Osun State governor while over 3,000 inmates have escaped from custody.

On Tuesday night, scores of heavily armed terrorists with explosives had attacked the Kuje Correctional Centre which led to loss of lives of some inmates and an NSCDC official.

The terrorists reportedly freed over 600 inmates, including 64 suspected Boko Haram members who were held in custody and had earlier demanded their release as a negotiation for the release of abductees in their den.

HURIWA also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to quit asking rhetorical questions on how the intelligence system of the country failed to detect Tuesday’s attack at Kuje prison in Abuja on social media.

The group demanded the President immediately set up a judicial panel of inquiry on prison attacks in the country and ensure that such assaults on the entire security apparatus of Nigeria do not recur.

“The spate of jailbreaks under President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, is alarming and condemnable.

“Even under then-President Goodluck Jonathan, who had no military experience or background, jailbreaks weren’t as rampant as what Nigerians see these days.

“The frequent and recurring jailbreaks show the inefficiency of all those President Buhari appointed into office and his unwillingness to sack them show also that the President tacitly want the situation to continue to fester,” HURIWA said.