118 inmates escape Suleja prison after heavy rain destroys fence

Tamarauemi Ebimini

Authorities have confirmed the escape of 118 inmates from the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre, Niger state, following a heavy downpour that wreaked havoc on the facility, Wednesday night.

The rain which lasted hours was said to have destroyed part of the main facility and the perimeter fence giving way for the inmates to escape.

Spokesperson of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT), command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, (NCoS), Adamu Duza, in a statement, said 10 inmates have been recaptured after the agency activated a mechanism to recapture the fleeing inmates.

“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,” Duza said.

“The Service is making frantic efforts to see that all ageing facilities give way for modern one.”

Meanwhile, the Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Francis John, has assured that the service is doing all possible to mitigate the impact that the fleeing inmates could have on communities

While urging the public to go about their normal businesses without fear or hindrance, John called on anyone with information on the fleeing inmates to contact nearby security agencies.

He said the NCoS is making effort to decongest its facilities with the ongoing construction of six number of 3000-capacity ultra-modern custodial centres in all the geo-political zones in Nigeria and renovation of existing facilities.

“The public is further enjoined to look out for the fleeing inmates and report any suspicious movement to the nearest security agency,” John said.