Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed an immediate investigation into the jailbreak at the Koton Karfe Correctional Centre in Kogi State. The Minister described the incident as unfortunate and assured that every escaped inmate would be recaptured using biometric technology and other security measures.
A statement from his spokesperson, Babatunde Alao, confirmed that the Minister had ordered the Acting Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi, to visit the facility. The visit aims to assess the situation and conduct a comprehensive audit to determine the factors that led to the prison break.
Tunji-Ojo reassured the public that authorities were in control of the situation. He stated that security personnel had been deployed to Kogi State, and every effort was being made to ensure the facility was secure.
The escape involved twelve inmates from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Koton Karfe during an early Monday morning jailbreak. All the escapees were awaiting trial before the incident occurred. Security operatives have since captured two of them, while efforts are ongoing to locate and arrest the remaining ten.
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National Spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Abubakar Umar, confirmed that search operations had been activated across multiple locations. He added that intelligence teams were working with law enforcement agencies to track down the fugitives.
One officer was killed during the attack on the facility. The circumstances surrounding the officer’s death remain under investigation, with authorities determined to bring those responsible to justice.
The Koton Karfe prison has a history of jailbreaks. In 2016, thirteen inmates escaped, with five later recaptured. In an earlier incident in 2014, armed attackers freed 144 inmates, leading to the death of a correctional officer. These recurring security breaches have raised concerns over the effectiveness of security measures at the facility.
With investigations ongoing, the Interior Minister emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of citizens and strengthening security at all correctional facilities across the country.
Crediblenewsng.com
