President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime has vowed that there will “never” be a jailbreak again.

Under Mr Buhari’s watch, Africa’s most populous nation has witnessed a series of daring prison breaks resulting in the fleeing of hundreds of inmates, including hardened criminals like Boko Haram terrorists.

Specifically, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, assured that “never again would jailbreak be repeated” in Nigeria and warned criminal elements to keep off the prisons across the country or they would not live to tell the story of any dastard acts.

“Although a few of the custodial centres of recent have suffered a spate of unprovoked but cowardly attacks, thankfully, that is clearly behind us now. We have been able to strengthen the custodial facilities with very tough measures,” said Mr Aregbesola. “They are now strong, well-fortified and impregnable. If anyone or a group dares to test our will now, they may not live to regret it.”

The minister also advised Nigerians not to obstruct the operations of the Federal Fire Service in responding to fire emergencies.

Mr Aregbesola stated this at a world press conference held at the Radio House Abuja on Monday. He added that arsonists, vandals and other criminals would pay with their lives.

Meanwhile, information minister Lai Mohammed claimed that Nigeria’s military had succeeded in crushing bandits, terrorists and other criminal elements trying to destabilise the country.

“The country remains standing and resolute to end terrorism, banditry and other forms of crimes,” the minister stated.

Mr Mohammed appealed to Nigerians to see security as the business of everyone and thanked the media for carrying out their watchdog roles in nation-building and national defence.

At the press briefing, the Minister of Defence retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Magashi further claimed that criminal elements had been substantially degraded and defeated in the last four weeks.

According to Mr Abdulkadir, 66 suspected terrorists were killed, alongside the ISWAP commander, Madu Chaka and 20 others. He added that 55 others were arrested, while 52 civilians regained their freedom from captivity.

(NAN)