—- PDP, Other Nigerians Demand Investigation Over Alleged Complicity

Following revelation that soldiers guarding the Kuje Correctional Centre area were suddenly withdrawn before the Boko Haram terrorist attacks on the prison on Tuesday night, observers and critics have raised questions and made allegations of complicity.

Today, Nigerians are asking, who ordered the immediate withdrawal of soldiers hitherto guarding the Kuje Prison area, 24 hours before the attack on the facility by terrorist on Tuesday night?

It has been confirmed by the Minister of Defence that all the over 50 high profile Boko Haram Suspects held in the facility escaped during the attack and have not been recaptured.

Leading the criticism is the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP.

The party asked the question on Wednesday, while condemning the incident, even as it accused the Federal Government-led by the All Progressives Congress of complicity in the prison attack.

Stating that the incident fell within the narrative that the APC government, was deliberately allowing massive insecurity in the country so as not to conduct the 2023 election, PDP said the simultaneous terrorist attacks on the advance convoy of President Muhammadu Buhari in Katsina State, “underscored the collapse of our security command and control structure under the failed, ineffective and uncoordinated Buhari-led APC administration.”

PDP, in a statement, signed by its spokesman. Debo Ologunagba, said: “The terrorist attack on President Buhari’s convoy in his home State of Katsina as well as the ferocious invasion and the freeing of hundreds of terrorists and criminals from the Kuje Correctional Facility further confirm that Mr. President has lost control of the security of the nation and that Nigerians are no longer safe under the APC.”

It added: “The escalated spate of terrorism across the country has heightened apprehensions of complicity by the APC to open up our nation to more terrorist attacks with the view to stall the 2023 General Elections. 

“The failure of the APC administration to act on the intelligence provided by the Directorate of State Services (DSS) which on Tuesday July 5, 2022 reportedly warned of an impending attack on the Kuje Correctional Facility gives credence to fears.”

“This is in addition to further reports that soldiers deployed to the precinct of the Kuje Correctional Facility and who had become familiar with the terrain were redeployed 24 hours before the terrorists attacked.

“The PDP demands that the APC government should come clean on who ordered the reported redeployment of soldiers and who failed to act on the intelligence provided by the DSS.

Nigerians can recall the public confession by the Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai at the wake of the bloody Abuja-Kaduna terrorist attack that the APC-led administration knows the whereabouts and the plans of the terrorists ravaging our nation but deliberately refused to act. Nigerians will also recall how APC leaders publicly romanced and paid money to terrorists.

“It is rather distressing that President Buhari appears helpless without any decisive and concrete steps taken to stem the tide of terrorist attacks in our country.

Even more curious is that President Buhari continues to retain Mr. Isa Pantami as Minister of Communication and Digital Economy to head and coordinate this very critical sector in the fight against terrorism in our country in spite of Isa Pantami’s confession of affiliation to terrorists.

“With the sequence of events in the last 48 hours, it is clear to Nigerians that the APC government headed by President Buhari has failed in the basic purpose of government which is to secure life and properties of the citizens.

“Given the urgency of the security situation in the country, it has become imperative that President Buhari convenes an emergency Council of State meeting for a review of the prevailing dangerous security atmosphere in our country.

“The PDP also calls on the National Assembly to pass a vote of no confidence in Isa Patimi and insist on his immediate removal as a minister. The National Assembly should also immediately summon the Security Chiefs for a thorough investigation on the circumstances resulting in the failure of our security system.

“The PDP urges Nigerians to remain at alert and keep hope alive as the nightmare of the APC administration will be over by May 2023.”