Advertisement

Buhari won’t give in to terrorists, Senegal trip necessary, as Buhari, Osinbajo visits Kuje Prison

Presidency on Wednesday justified President Muhammadu Buhari’s trip to Senegal to participate at the summit of the International Development Association (IDA) for Africa in Dakar, Senegal.

Advertisement

Femi Adesina, presidential spokesman, while briefing State House journalists, after the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), insisted that the president should go because there’s an international conference meant for heads of states and presidents.

State House journalists had wanted to know the rationale for proceeding on the engagement, considering the attacks on his advanced team at Dutsinma, close to Katsina, in Katsina state, the death of the outgoing Secretary-General of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), Mohammed Barkindo, who he described as “ a worthy ambassador of the country” .

This is also as Kuje, the last city and major gateway into the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), came under severe attacks, with the deadly Boko Haram inmates were released by the terrorists

Advertisement

But Adesina, defending Buhari’s trip, insisted that he should attend. You should never give in to terrorists. The moment terrorists, begin to stop you from doing things, then we might as well throw up our hands in surrender. The President should go ahead. Yes, it’s an international obligation”

President Muhammadu Buhari and the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, visited the facility.

No fewer than five persons were reported killed on Tuesday night after terrorists, numbering over 200, bombed the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, in Abuja.

Among those killed was a civil defence personnel attached to the facility, while four inmates, said to have attempted an escape, were also killed.

Advertisement

Spokesman of the Service, Chief Superintendent Abubakar Umar, in an updated statement, added that suspended Deputy Commissioner of Police, Abba Kyari, and other high profile inmates are still in custody, contrary to reports that he had escaped.

The Vice President who came in a chopper at about 3:35pm was received by the Inspector General of Police IGP Usman Baba Alkali, paramilitary service chiefs among other top government officials.