Kuje prison attack: Wadume, other notorious kidnap kingpins flee custody

The Taraba State kidnap kingpin and gunrunner, Hamisu Wadume who was apprehended and detained in connection with the killing of three Police IRT operatives in a special operation led by the embattled DCP Abba Kyari, is among other notorious inmates that fled custody during Tuesday night’s attack on Kuje Prison by terrorists.

Recalled, Wadume has been in custody at Kuje prison since 2020. According to a security source, he has not been found and was not among prisoners recaptured or those who voluntarily returned after the attack on the Kuje Prison facility.

Vanguard had reported that Hamisu Wadume was nabbed by IRT operatives in Takum, Taraba State, for terrorising the people of the state with his criminal activities.

But the IRT operatives came under heavy gunfire by soldiers of 93 Battalion, Takum, in Taraba state, killing three police officers and one civilian staff in the process because they were not properly identified and their vehicle had nothing to show they were policemen.

The soldiers who also rescued Wade, from the IRT operatives were said to have carried out the operations on the orders of their Commanding Officer.

After his rescue by the soldiers, Wade took to his heels and escaped from Taraba state, eliciting public outrage.

He was later rearrested by the IRT operatives at Kano and brought to Abuja, and charged to court, where he was remanded in prison custody.