The Minister of Police Affairs, Mohammed Dingyadi has admitted that President Muhammadu Buhari did not issue any deadline for security chiefs to conclude investigation into the Kuje jailbreak where over 600 terrorists and hardened criminals were set free by Boko Haram insurgents.
Mr Dingyadi made the admission while fielding questions from journalists at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa in Abuja shortly after the National Security Council meeting presided over by Mr Buhari on Friday.
When asked if the president, who had initially expressed shock over the incompetence of the nation’s intelligence systems in foiling the attack, attached a specific timeline to round off investigation on the matter, the Police Affairs minister responded with a vague “as soon as possible.”
“You see we have raised this issue at the meeting. And we know Nigerians are eager to know the actions that are going to be taken, ” Mr Dingyadi said.
“But you see some of these things are security issues, we do not need to give out the details of what we are going to do. But we will just assure Nigerians that we’re on top of the situation. And we will be doing it the needful.”
The non-attachment of a deadline to the conclusion of investigation implied intelligence-gathering on the jailbreak may take as long as could be, giving the escaped terrorists ample time to reintegrate the society without detection.
The response has further lent credence to claims that Mr Buhari was casual in his approach against insecurity since he rarely matched his frequent press statements with significant actions.
Mr Dingyadi’s statement may be the latest addition to the long list of unfulfilled promises the Buhari regime has made to citizens during his seven years of governance so far.
Meanwhile, Defence minister Bashir Magashi on Wednesday said the 64 Boko Haram suspects who escaped from the Kuje prison after the Tuesday night attack had yet to be recaptured. The Nigeria Correctional Service later declared 33 of the escaped terrorists wanted.