A group of terrorists on Tuesday night attacked the Kuje Medium Custodial Centre in Abuja, the nation’s capital with bombs in an apparent move to gain entry into the facility and free some of its members.

A high calibre bomb had first gone off at about 10:25pm followed by a second and third blasts as well as sporadic gunshots that residents into panic mode.

The Nigerian Correctional Service NCoS had earlier received intelligence reports that one of its facilities could come under attacks.

Officials were not immediately available for comments on Tuesday night.

An inside source said the attackers used three bombs and forcibly gained control of four entry and exit points.

The prison is in Kuje Area Council of the FCT, lying outside the Abuja city centre, 47 kilometres to the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, and 24 kilometres to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

Dangerous criminals, including apprehended Boko Haram terrorists, are held in the prison, which also houses high profile public officers standing trial or already convicted.

“Three weeks ago, several high profile terrorists were relocated to Kuje prison,” the prison source said, the earliest link officials are analysing to trace the motivation for the attack.

Kuje has a capacity of about 550 but currently detains about 1000 inmates, a prison source said.

Specifically, soldiers of the 176 Special Forces Guards Brigade Battalion, Gwagwalada, were deployed by the army.

The impact of the attack is not immediately known but officials are suspecting a terrorist motivation to free dangerous criminals.

Also, the Presidency last night confirmed gunmen attack on the convoy of President Muhammadu Buhari’s advance team to Katsina.

The Presidency also said that two persons, who sustained injuries as a result of the attack, were receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

President Buhari is expected to be in Katsina, his home state, on Friday to observe the sallah festival.

A statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the Presisent on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, read: “The Presidency has described as sad and unwelcome, the shooting incident near Dutsinma, Katsina State, at the convoy of cars carrying the Advance Team of security guards, protocol and media officers ahead of the President, Muhammadu Buhari’s trip to Daura for Sallah.

“The attackers opened fire on the convoy from ambush positions, but were repelled by the military, police and DSS personnel accompanying the convoy.

“Two persons in the convoy are receiving treatment for the minor injuries they suffered.

“All the other personnel, staff and vehicles made it safely to Daura.”