Kuje, a satellite town housing over 97,367 people — according to the 2006 census — and a correctional facility in Abuja, was hit by gunmen on the night of July 5.
About 300 Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) insurgents launched an attack on the Kuje medium correctional facility.
An operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) securing the prison was killed, as well as four inmates.
At a media briefing at the facility, Bashir Magashi, minister of defence, said 64 Boko Haram inmates escaped.
The Nigerian prison system has three classifications based on security arrangement: minimum, medium and maximum.
Minimum-security prisons are meant for crimes such as fraud, theft and various crimes regarded as non-violent, while medium-security prisons are for dangerous criminals, for example, members of an armed group.
Maximum-security prisons are for the most dangerous criminals or suspects, terrorists for example, charged with violent crimes. They are often completely isolated from everyone.
