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Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has said he will not resign from office despite the incessant attacks on the nation’s custodial facilities.
There have been calls for the minister’s resignation following the incessant attacks on custodial centres across the country.
But speaking to State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja, on Wednesday, the minister said there are many factors responsible for the development, assuring that the Federal Government is doing all that is necessary to make the facilities impregnable.
“Imo was in April this year. Kabba was in September. Abolongo was in October and Jos was in November. Those captured the attacks.
“As painful as those attacks were, very painful, nobody will really want the end of justice to be so vulnerable.
“The custodial facilities are the final end of justice administration.
“So, morally, the state owes itself the responsibility of safe custody that must not be violated
“On that account alone, we must appreciate the enormity of any successful attack on custodial facilities, and I so do.
“But I want us to put this thing in the context of our security situation.
“When your best does not suffice, it’s no longer a question of your inability to make preparation or failure for preparation or preparedness.
“It’s just that at that instance, you just couldn’t hold the defence and several factors are responsible.
“What I can assure Nigerians is this. Yes, as contextual as these attacks and the successes such criminals are having, we are upping our game and we will not allo. We will prevent any such opportunistic attack and even make it impossible. And that is what the state must do.
“We are working with all arms of government, particularly the security to make our custodial facilities impregnable.
“We will not rest until that is achieved That’s the assurance I can give to Nigerians,” the minister said.
He continued: “As to whether it calls for my resignation, I still don’t see any need for that because it’s not for lack of preparedness that the attacks were successful. No,” he stated.
Aregbesola noted that the death of prison officials during the attacks is a testament to the efforts being put in place to prevent the by the government, describing the death of the officials as the highest form of honour to the country.