In a swift response to Wednesday night’s daring prison break at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre in Niger State, authorities have successfully recaptured 14 inmates, with a massive manhunt underway to apprehend the remaining 105 escapees.
The prison break, which occurred during a heavy downpour, saw 119 inmates escape from the facility after a breach in the perimeter fence. Security forces sprang into action, recapturing ten inmates initially, with four more apprehended by Thursday evening. The escapees included individuals convicted of various crimes, including armed robbery, kidnapping, and murder.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, visited the scene to assess the damage and emphasized the need for comprehensive reforms across the nation’s over 240 custodial centres. He reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to recapturing all remaining escapees and preventing such breaches in the future.
According to Adamu Duza, Spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, “Our intelligence officers, armed squadron officers, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, DSS, and other security agencies, are combing neighbouring communities to find the fleeing inmates. We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure their recapture and restore order to the facility.”
The search continues, with security forces conducting door-to-door searches, patrolling highways, and monitoring surveillance footage to track down the escapees. The public has been urged to report any sightings or information about the whereabouts of the fleeing inmates to the authorities immediately.
As the investigation into the prison break continues, officials are working to determine how the breach occurred and how to prevent such incidents in the future. The incident has raised concerns about the state of Nigeria’s prison facilities and the need for urgent reforms to address overcrowding, inadequate security, and poor conditions.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story as more information becomes available.