The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed that 119 prisoners escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centers in Suleja, Niger State, on Wednesday night after a downpour damaged some of the building’s infrastructure.
NCoS, however, said it consequently activated its recapturing mechanisms, and in conjunction with sister security agencies, has so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody while it was in hot chase to recapture the remaining 109 on the run.
LEADERSHIP had reported that an unspecified number of inmates escaped from the old Suleja Correctional Centre in Suleja local government area of Niger State following a rainstorm that destroyed parts of the facility on Wednesday night. A storm accompanied by heavy rain around 9pm destroyed parts of the custodial centre, a development that led to many of the inmates escaping from the facility.
However, a statement issued by NCoS FCT Command’s spokesperson, DSC A.S. Duza, on Thursday morning, said the Service was on top of the situation, urging members of the public to go about their normal businesses without fear or hindrance.
Duza noted that many of NCoS facilities were built during the colonial era, and that they are old and weak, adding that the Service was making frantic efforts to see that all ageing facilities give way for modern ones with the ongoing construction of six 3000-capacity ultra-modern custodial centres in all the geo-political zones of the country as well as the ongoing reconstruction and renovation of existing ones.
“A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday, 24 April 2024 has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centres, Suleja, Niger state, as well as surrounding buildings, destroying part of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of a total of one hundred and eighteen (119) inmates of the facility.
“The Service has immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms, and in conjunction with sister security agencies have so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody, while we are in hot chase to recapture the rest.
“The Service is not unmindful of the fact that many of its facilities were built during the colonial era, and that they are old and weak.
“The Service is making frantic efforts to see that all ageing facilities give way for modern ones. This is evidenced in the ongoing construction of six (6) number of 3000-capacity ultra-modern custodial centres in all the geo-political zones in Nigeria as well as the ongoing reconstruction and renovation of existing ones.
“The Service wishes to assure the public that it is on top of the situation and that they should go about their businesses without fear or hindrance. The public is further enjoined to look out for the fleeing inmates and report any suspicious movement to the nearest security agency,” FCT Command’s spokesperson stated.