THE Federal Government has ordered security agencies to do everything humanly possible to recapture all 109 fleeing inmates of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State.
Minister of Interior Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo issued the directive during his visit to the Centre for an on-the-spot assessment of the damage caused by the rainstorm, which led to the escape of 119 inmates on Wednesday night.
The torrential downpour wreaked havoc on the facility, including breaching the perimeter fence, allowing some inmates to flee.
Tunji-Ojo stated that the Federal Government would relocate the Custodial Centre from its current location due to its entanglement with urbanization.
According to the prison authorities, the Medium Security Custodial Centre, situated amidst residential buildings, was built in 1914. The Minister admitted that the walls were now very old and infirm.
Tunji-Ojo disclosed that before the incident, the facility housed 499 inmates, exceeding the expected capacity of 250 it was initially built.
The Minister stated, “There was a breach of the outer wall of the facility after the storm last night, and some inmates escaped. We have recaptured 10 out of the 119; 109 are still at large. A manhunt is presently ongoing. We will do everything humanly possible to ensure each of them is brought back.”
Tunji-Ojo assured Nigerians that measures were being implemented to restore order. He also stated that his Ministry was working behind the scenes to devise a correctional system beneficial to Nigerians, expressing optimism that such incidents would not occur again in any other facility.
MEANWHILE, a total of 14 fleeing inmates have been recaptured by security agents.