In a brazen security breach that has sent shockwaves through Nigeria’s correctional system, sixteen (16) inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Keffi, in the early hours of Tuesday.
LEADERSHIP gathered that the well-coordinated attack saw prisoners overpowering guards, injuring five correctional officers, two of whom were in critical condition and receiving treatment at a government hospital.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed the incident in an official statement, signed by its Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Umar.
Umar revealed that seven of the escaped inmates have already been recaptured, while a manhunt was underway for the remaining nine.
According to the statement, the Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, who undertook an on- the- spot assessment of the scene, ordered immediate investigation into the incident.
He assured the public that no staff member will be shielded if found complicit in the escape, emphasising that accountability will be pursued to the fullest extent.
The statement party reads, “This is a grave situation, and we are treating it with the utmost urgency. The safety of Nigerians is our priority,” Nwakuche stated during his visit.
“The Service has launched a nationwide operation in collaboration with other security agencies to recapture the remaining escapees.
“Meanwhile, members of the public are being urged to stay calm but alert, and to report any suspicious activities or individuals to the nearest security outpost,” the statement added.
Security experts however said that while preliminary findings were still being compiled, this latest breach raised fresh concerns about the vulnerability of correctional facilities across the country.
This is as the NCoS reaffirmed its commitment to public safety and promised swift reforms to prevent a recurrence.
The Service called on anyone with useful information is to contact local law enforcement immediately.
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