The ministry of interior says about 600 inmates escaped from Kuje prison in the federal capital territory (FCT).

Shuaib Belgore, permanent secretary, ministry of interior, disclosed this on Wednesday while briefing journalists at the facility in Abuja.

Gunmen had attacked the prison with explosives on Tuesday night.

A resident had told TheCable that gunfire was heard for over 30 minutes, causing panic among residents.

Speaking at the briefing, Belgore said the assailants came “very prepared” with explosives.

He said about 600 inmates escaped, but that security operatives have retaken 300 so far, and that effort is in progress to recapture others at large.

“There have been several attacks on our facilities, most of them are repelled, but every now and then, they succeed,” he said.

“The intial entry attempt was unsuccessful, then they attacked another section of the wall with higher grade explosives which brought the wall down.

“The forces on ground did everything they could to repell them, but the number they came with were high, which they were not able to defend against.

“They kept on fighting gallantly [but] unfortunately the breach happened. Reinforcement came when they were halfway through it. They were eventually repelled. At the time they came in, they killed one NSCDC personnel while trying to save the situation.

“The inmates here are 994. We understand they are Boko Haram terrorists and came specifically for their conspirators. Many of them have returned, some were retrieved from the bushes they were hiding. We have retrieved about 300 out of about 600 that got out of the jail.”

Belgore said the number of the assailants killed is yet to be ascertained.

He added that one security operative was killed while three others were wounded and are receiving treatment.