By John Ikani
The Federal Government of Nigeria has declared all correctional facilities across the country red zones, following incessant attacks and jail breaks in recent times.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola said this when he was featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja.
According to him, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) now conducts periodic simulation exercises of attacks and responses in the most risky facilities in the country.
He said the service was also doing its best to prepare the operatives to respond to any such attack.
“Before Kuje attack, regrettably, that was not done, but since the attack, we now have what we call periodic simulation of attack and response.
“So with that, I still want to say those who want to test our will might not live to tell the story.
“As far as humanly possible, we are improving, we are learning everyday from our weaknesses and we are overcoming.
“We declared all our centres as red zones that whoever attempted to breach them will be risking his life, we still maintain that and we are reinforcing,” he said.
Speaking further, Aregbesola said the Kuje correctional center was not breached for lack of security, stressing that Kuje had the best security even at the time it was breached.
He added that the service was improving on its weaknesses that led to the breach of the most fortified custodial facility in Nigeria.
The minister further said the Nigeria Correctional Service now has the backing of high powered armed agencies to support in defending the facilities.
According to him, the support of other armed security agencies will help to contain threats to custodial centres.
“Our facilities are now war fronts from what you have seen. We can no longer assume that threat to security in our facilities can only come from within as it used to be.
“Providing stations and bases to supportive armed agencies is to build up the security of our facilities,” he said.
