No fewer than 119 prisoners have escaped from correctional center in Suleja, Niger State as a heavy downpour, which lasted for several hours, destroyed part of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence.
The rain, which poured down uncontrollably yesterday night, April 24, brought down the Medium Security prison and surrounding buildings.
Confirming the incidence in a statement today, April 25, the Deputy Superintendent of Corrections Command’s Public Relations Officer in the FCT Command, A S. Duza said that the Service has immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms and in conjunction with sister security agencies, have so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody.
“We are in hot chase to recapture the rest.”
He said that 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.
“The Service is making frantic efforts to see that all ageing facilities give way for modern ones. This is evidenced in the ongoing construction of six (6) 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.”
