•13 inmates re-arrested •FG mulls relocation of prisons after incident
By Omeiza Ajayi
No fewer than 119 inmates of the medium security prisons, Suleja, Niger State, have escaped, following hours of heavy downpour which destroyed parts of the facility of yesterday.
Spokesman of the Federal Capital Territory FCT command of the Nigerian Prisons Service, NPS, Adamu Duza, disclosed this in Abuja yesterday.
He said: “A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday, April 24, 2024, has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Prisons, Suleja, Niger State, as well as surrounding buildings, destroying part of the facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of a total of 119 inmates of the facility.”
According to him, the Service has immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms, and in conjunction with sister security agencies, have so far recaptured 13 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody, while still in a hot chase to recapture others.
Duza said the Service was not unmindful of the fact that many of its facilities were built during the colonial era and that they were old and weak, adding that the Service was making frantic efforts to see that all ageing facilities gave way to modern ones.
“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.
“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.
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