Despite early warnings, the Kuje prison was attacked on Tuesday by suspected terrorists, paving way for the escape of over 800 prisoners. About half of the escapees are still at large including over 60 Boko Haram terrorists.

The attack on the Kuje facility is the latest in a series of attacks on prisons in Nigeria.

Between April 5, 2021, and June 5, 2022, there were at least nine reports of attacks on prisons in different parts of Nigeria.

Before the Kuje incident, there were attacks on the Owerri prison, Bauchi prison, Ubiaja prison in Edo State, Kurmawa Prison in Kano, Jos and Plateau prisons, Kabba prison in Kogi, and Abolongo prison in Oyo State.

Since its establishment in 1989, the Kuje prison has housed different categories of prisoners, from murderers to corrupt politicians.

A day after the attack on Kuje prison, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Correctional Service said none of the prominent detainees in the facility escaped.

“This is also to confirm to the general public that DCP Abba Kyari and other VIPs held in the facility did not escape. They are presently in custody, hale and hearty,” he said.

However, there are indications that some of the prominent detainees did indeed escape.

PREMIUM TIMES profiles below some of the prominent detainees at the Kuje prison during the attack.

Hamisu Bala (Wadume)
Popularly known as Wadume, Hamisu Bala was a Taraba-based kidnap kingpin who was notorious in the North-east and North-central parts of Nigeria.

After his arrest on August 6, 2019, Mr Bala, allegedly assisted by compromised soldiers, escaped when they opened fire on police officers transporting the kidnap kingpin.

Suspected Taraba kidnap kingpin Hamisu Wadume.

Three police officers and two civilians were killed during the incident.

He was, however, re-arrested on August 19, 2019, in an operation led by police officer, Abba Kyari, who later became his fellow inmate in Kuje prison.

Mr Bala was detained in Kuje prison where he is awaiting trial for crimes bordering on terrorism, murder, kidnapping and possession of illegal arms.

He is believed to be among the over 400 inmates who are still at large.

Abba Kyari
A decorated police officer, Mr Kyari slipped into infamy in early 2022 when he was arrested for aiding and abetting drug pushing.

His celebrity status was first brought under public scrutiny in July 2021 when the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation linked him to $1.1 million internet fraud perpetrated by a popular Instagram celebrity, Ramon Abbas, also known as Hushpuppi.

Suspended and embattled police officer, DCP Abba Kyari.
Suspended and embattled police officer, DCP Abba Kyari.
While Nigerian authorities said they were investigating the U.S. indictment, Mr Kyari was declared wanted in February by the NDLEA for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

Justice Emeka Nite of the Abuja Federal High Court, in June, sentenced Mr Kyari’s partners, Chibunna Umeibe and Emeka Ezenwane, to six years imprisonment for drug trafficking.

The trial of the ex-deputy commissioner of police, kept in Kuje prison, has subsequently been fixed for July 18, 19 and 20.

Kabiru Dikko (Kabiru Sokoto)
Notorious for the 2011 Christmas Day bombing in Madalla, Niger State, many were relieved when police announced the eventual arrest of Kabiru Dikko, largely known as Kabiru Sokoto.

He masterminded the attack on the St Theresa Roman Catholic Church, which killed at least 37 persons and injured many others.


Kabiru Sokoto
Mr Dikko, a member of Boko Haram, was arrested in early 2012 and was sentenced to life imprisonment in December 2013.

Believed to be among the Kuje inmates, his name was, however, not among the 68 Boko Haram suspects declared wanted by Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS).

Peter Nwachukwu
Peter Nwachukwu was given a criminal status following the death of a popular gospel artiste, Osinachi Nwachukwu.

The gospel artiste was initially reported to have died a normal death on April 8 until her younger brother filed a complaint of possible homicide against Mr Nwachukwu, the husband of late singer.

Peter Nwachukwu
Justice N.K. Nwosu-Iheme of the FCT High Court, in June, ordered that Mr Nwachukwu be remanded at the Kuje prison pending the hearing of the matter.

He did not escape during the attack on the prison.

Farouk Lawan
Once a vocal voice on the floor of Nigeria House of Representatives, Farouk Lawan ended up committing a crime in a matter he was appointed to investigate.

As the chairman of the ad-hoc committee investigating the fraud around the fuel subsidy regime, Mr Lawan was caught on camera collecting a $500,000 bribe from Femi Otedola, a Nigerian billionaire and oil mogul in 2012.

Former federal lawmaker, Farouk Lawan
Former federal lawmaker, Farouk Lawan
The money was a payment to erase the name of Mr Otedola’s oil company, Zenon Oil and Gas, from the list of firms indicted for fraud during the fuel subsidy regime.

He was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment by the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) High Court in Abuja, last month and he was to be held in Kuje prison.

He also did not escape during the attack on the prison.

Abdulrasheed Maina
Rather than cleaning the rot in the country’s pension system, Abdulrasheed Maina did more damage to the same system.

Abdulrasheed Maina
Mr Maina was appointed in 2010 as the Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Force but got dismissed from the seat following an allegation of embezzlement of funds.

He was alleged to have embezzled billions of pensioners’ funds before going into hiding to escape the wrath of the law.

Mr Maina was sentenced to eight years’ imprisonment for money laundering offences involving N2 billion of pension funds.

Mr Maina did not escape from prison during attack.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/542323-profiles-of-vip-inmates-in-kuje-prison-before-attack.html

Thieves like Tinubu

gentlestdude:
Thieves like Tinubu

Except abandoned Kyari...others might not be sleeping there. Maina's name was not mentioned until about 48 hours later. The names flying about were that of Kyari, Dariye and Nyame. It was later Farouk Lawan was mentioned with that of Maina

This is supposed to be a high profile prison. Even minor prisons in Europe is better than this

lol so as dem be VIP dem go get access to alot of things be dat like having access to book Hookup babes


The VIP no get Federal Character also

Kuje Prison is less than 50 km from Aso Rock, and over 800 km from Ter*orist comfort zone, Borno State in north-east Nigeria. The operations planning and coordination shows determination to spread terror beyond Nigeria’s north-east. Our leaders should know and do better

PrettyBolu:
This is supposed to be a high profile prison. Even minor prisons in Europe is better than this

...prisons...are...

Simply put.. "The size of your pocket (stolen money) determines your position in Nigeria prison!

That list is not complete, someone that is seeking for presidency in 2023 is supposed to be there, I did not call anybody's name, but if your conscience pricks you.

Then you know who the person is

Them still de the prison abi dem don japa?

K

VIP or not, I will rather live as a pauper in the real world than a king in prison. Humans weren’t meant to be locked up. Death is a sweeter release than incarceration.

VIP Inmate....SMH

@Seniorwriter

Awọn àgbà olè

How Otedola escaped being indicted after paying bribe really shows how flawed our justice system has been.

Payer and Payee of bribe ought to be sentenced and that's the only way to sanitize the system because they're both guilty of economic sabotage

The most annoying is Abdulrasheed Maina

Nawa o

PrettyBolu:
This is supposed to be a high profile prison. Even minor prisons in Europe is better than this

no criminal is better than the other.criminal na criminal

When a terrorist rules a country everything will be in chaos

No Jagaban Barawo here?

Tinubu Suppose dey Chill with him Mates here

VIP and ORDINARY inmates.

They are ALL CRIMINALS.

CRIMINAL NA CRIMINAL biko

Seen.

Buhari and Tinubu will soon join the list

Ok