By Tosin Olatokunbo
Following the terrorists attack on Kuje minimum prison on Tuesday Night fear has mounted over the fate of former Govrnors Jolly Nyame and Joshua Dariye of Taraba and Plateau State, respectively.
Apart from the two ex-governor, the facility also houses Abba Kyari, the disgraced super cop and and former commander of the Inspector General of Police, Response Team, IRT, standing trial for fraud and drug trafficking.
The two former governor had recently been granted pardon by President Muhammadu Buhari, a development which put an end to their imprisonment for stealing billions of naira belonging to their various states. They were yet to be released before the attack late Tuesday night.
The Nigerian Police Force, NPF had on Wednesday claimed that 10 gun men attacked the facility around 10 pm yesterday. The fleeing terrorists had burned down a section of the facility and some vehicles, sources said.
Recall that the Nigerian Correctional Services, NCS had recently said the former governors remained in prison due to bureaucratic delay on the part of the government to perfect their release documents.
The terror attack has however raised serious questions on whether the two former governors have escaped the prison, alongside other inmates who fled the prison after the attack. No fewer than 300 criminals, Including terrorists and other hardened criminals in the facility were believed to have fled into nearby forests and communities.
The combined forces of DSS, Army and Airforce personnel, the magazine learnt have been directed to go after the escaped inmates after the Minster of Defence visited the correctional centre on Wednesday.
But sources told the again that the two former state helmsman did not escape. They have now been moved to a more secured part of the facility.
“The former governors are still in prison. In fact they did not leave there cell while the attack lasted. Due to the fact that they are high profile inmates, they have now been relocated to a safe corrie at the correctional centre, which I cannot disclosed for security reasons,” the source said.
President Buhari had on April 15 granted pardon to Nyame and Dariye citing I’ll health. The president decision came after the council of state presided by Buhari agreed to pardon them.
The decision to pardon the duo who were serving prison sectences very fraud has been greeted with condemnation from many Nigerians.
The former governors were among 159 inmates pardoned for various reasons.
Meanwhile, it has also been learnt that Kyari is still in the facility, and like the former governors have been moved to a more secure place in the prison. Kyari was in May ordered to be remanded in prison by Justice Emeka Nwite of the federal high court, after the judge turned down his bail application.
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