In Search for Jailbreakers, Soldiers Take over Abuja, Mount Strategic Roadblocks

As the search for some of the terrorists, who escaped from the Kuje Correctional Centre in the wake of an attack by members of ISWAP terrorist group, stern-looking soldiers have been deployed in Abuja, with roadblocks mounted in some major locations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

This development, however, coincided with the narration by the Director of the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) in the FCT, Dr Hassan Suleiman, who gave account of his ordeal while held captive by terrorists, who attacked the Abuja-Kaduna train on  Mach 28, 2022.

Relatedly, operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have arrested one of the wanted members of the terror group, who escaped from the Medium Security Correctional Centre, Kuje, following an attack on the facility by insurgents last week in Abuja.

However, in view of the current situation in Abuja, many pedestrians were caught in the heavy traffic on the Abuja-Keffi Road on Sunday night following a roadblock mounted by soldiers stationed opposite Mogadishu Barracks, otherwise, called Abacha Barracks.

The barricade caused some gridlock that morphed from the Nyanya bound side of the barracks to as far as AYA bridge.

The traffic has also caused many vehicles heading towards Nyanya, Mararaba,  Karu, New Karu, Keffi, and Jos among other places, to be trapped on the road into the early hours of yesterday.

Apart from Abuja-Keffi road, THISDAY also gathered that soldiers had set up barriers in Madala on the Zuba-Abuja-Kaduna express road in their hunt for some of the Kuje prison escapees, who might contemplate infiltrating Niger, Kaduna and Nasarawa States that border the FCT.

The manhunt followed report that one of the Kuje inmates was caught in Nasarawa State on Friday.

Meanwhile, Suleiman, who was one of the seven captives freed on Saturday by bandits, who bombed the Kaduna-bound train on March, 28, 2022 and abducted 62 passengers, has detailed his unpleasant experience while in captivity.

In an audio message sent via WhatsApp, the FCT UBEB boss, who was on his way to Kaduna for an education progarmme organised by UBEB, described his experience as hell and prayed for his enemy never to experience same.

“Good morning, my brothers and sisters in FCT ANCOPPS, and other well-wishers. This is Dr Hassan Sule. I just want to extend my warm appreciation over prayers that led to our release by terrorists on Saturday,” he said in a creaky voice.

He said although he did not sustain any injury during the attack, many of the passengers were inflicted with injuries while some lost their lives.

He thanked the residents of the FCT and members of the All Nigeria Conference of Principals of Secondary (ANCOPPS) and others for their show of solidarity.