By Frank Kamuntu
Many prisoners fled a correctional facility after a rainstorm brought down part of the inner fencing.
Security agents are still looking for the on-the-run inmates.
The prisoners were serving time at the Suleja Correctional Centre, located in Suleja Local Government of Niger state in Nigeria.
The heavy downpour on Wednesday, April 24, led to a cell being torn down, providing incarcerated individuals with a chance at freedom.
Leadership News reported that security personnel have been sent to likely hideouts of the fleeing prisoners.
Reporters gathered that security forces fired many shots in the air, attempting to scare the inmates out of hiding.
While the State Comptroller of Prisons declined to speak to the press, it has been noted that security has been beefed up on the Minna-Suleja and Suleja-Kaduna roads, including the Madalla axis to Abuja road, which is a likely escape route out of the state for the inmates.
The Vanguard reported that no fewer than 119 inmates made it out of the facility before the security could take control of the situation.
Spokesman of the Federal Capital Territory FCT Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service NCoS, Adamu Duza disclosed this in a statement on Thursday morning.
Duza said that immediately upon learning of the incident, recapture mechanisms were rolled out to bring back fleeing prisoners.
He added that the efforts have yielded results, with at least 10 inmates reincarcerated.
“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”, said Duza.
Separately, a man in Kamiti Medium Prison was rearrested following an escape from the correctional facility.
Evans Ranny Makaka, who was serving a six-year sentence for killing his girlfriend in 2021 over infidelity, was given a new two-year sentence for escaping from prison.
Makaka reportedly escaped after learning that his wife had become pregnant despite them not being in physical contact for years.
Have An Advert Or Article You Want Us To Publish? WhatsApp: +256760530830.
