Group calls for Aregbesola's sack over incessant jailbreaks

A Civil rights advocacy group under the aegis of Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), has impressed on President Muhammadu Buhari to sack the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, with immediate effect over the alarming attacks on correctional facilities in Nigeria. 

In a statement signed by the National Coordinator of the group, Emmanuel Onwubiko on Thursday and available to the press, HURIWA condemned the incessant jailbreaks under Aregbesola’s watch.

The group noted that, in the last five years, there have been over 15 jailbreaks under the former Osun State governor while over 3,000 inmates have escaped from custody.

HURIWA’s outburst is coming hours after attack on Kuje Correctional Centre in Abuja on Tuesday night, where heavily armed with explosives, led to the loss of lives.

During the attack, the terrorists reportedly freed over 600 inmates, including 64 suspected Boko Haram members who were held in custody.

HURIWA also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to quit asking rhetorical questions on how the intelligence system of the country failed to detect Tuesday’s attack at Kuje prison in Abuja on social media.

The group demanded the President immediately set up a judicial panel of inquiry on prison attacks in the country and ensure that such assaults on the entire security apparatus of Nigeria do not recur.

The statement reads in part, “The spate of jailbreaks under President Muhammadu Buhari and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, is alarming and condemnable. Even under then-President Goodluck Jonathan, who had no military experience or background, jailbreaks weren’t as rampant as what Nigerians see these days.

“The frequent and recurring jailbreaks show the inefficiency of all those President Buhari appointed into office and his unwillingness to sack them show also that the President tacitly want the situation to continue to fester.

“HURIWA demands the sacking of the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola; and his Defence counterpart, Bashir Magashi; for perpetual incompetence. We also call for a broad-based judicial panel of inquiry on prison breaks in Nigeria to be constituted.”