No fewer than 119 inmates fled from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger state, after relentless rainfall battered the facility on Wednesday night.
Adamu Duza, spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory FCT Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS, revealed the staggering escape in a statement Thursday morning.
“A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday, 24 April 2024 has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centre, 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 118 inmates of the facility,” Duza lamented.
The NCoS promptly activated its recapture protocols, collaborating with sister security agencies. As of now, they’ve successfully apprehended 10 escapees, with the hunt ongoing for the remaining fugitives.
Acknowledging the structural vulnerabilities, Duza stressed, “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,” highlighting ongoing efforts to modernize infrastructure.
“This is evidenced in the ongoing construction of six 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,” Duza added, reassuring the public of their control over the situation and urging citizens to remain vigilant.
“The public is further enjoined to look out for the fleeing inmates and report any suspicious movement to the nearest security agency,” Duza emphasized.