Gov. Bello visits Kabba Correctional Center, says perpetrators of attack will be brought to justice »

… condoles with families of fallen heroes

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello has reassured of his administration’s commitments to forestall a reoccurrence of crime in whatever form, following the recent attack by armed men on the Medium Federal Correctional Centre in Kabba

Recall that the attackers, in their numbers, arrived at the custodial centre heavily armed and immediately engaged the guards in a fierce gun duel.

He stated this through his Deputy, Chief (Dr.) Edward Onoja, having paid an on-the-spot tour at the affected Correctional Facility on Tuesday in company of the State Deputy Chief of Staff, State Security Adviser, State Deputy Commisener of Police, and Deputy Comptroller General, NCS.

Chief Onoja who was on the ground on the directive of his principal for a first-hand assessment of the incident noted that it was in immediate follow up to an earlier visit by the Comptroller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Commander, Army Records, Lokoja, and other investigative personnel.

He recalled the many successes recorded by Governor Bello courtesy of his zero tolerance for insecurity in the State, noting that Strategic Remedial Actions are ongoing to smoke out the masterminds of the attack and ensure they face the wrath of the Law.

Whilst conveying the Governor’s condolences with the families and colleagues of servicemen who lost their lives due to the unfortunate incident, he commended the quick response of the various security agencies, traditional rulers, local hunters, and community residents leading to the rearrest and voluntary return of 112 inmates and counting.

On his part, Deputy Comptroller General of the NCS said the Service is short-staffed with inadequate equipment to repel the concurrent attacks on its facilities across the country.

Similarly, Chief Onoja paid separate visits to some of the injured security personnel at an undisclosed hospital, and the Palace of the Obaro of Kabba, HRM, Oba Solomon Oladele Owoniyi where he regretted the recurring occurrences of prison attacks in the country.

He further called for more reinforcement of the armed Squad of the Service, a beefed up security structure, adequate infrastructure, and increased collaboration between the Federal and State Governments to tackle future threats.

Welcoming him, the Royal Father also faulted the Judiciary for the neglect of inmates, citing that a worrying 87 percent of them were still awaiting trial at the affected facility.