Over 200 prisoners escape Kogi correctional centre

About 200 prisoners on Monday escaped from the medium federal correctional centre in Koton-Karfe, Kogi Local Government Area of Kogi State. The prisoners had escaped the facility following the collapse of parts of the building housing them.

There had been a heavy downpour, which started at about 2am on Monday, that led to massive flooding which destroyed many houses, including parts of the correctional centre, leading to the escape of the inmates.

Acting Chief Imam of Koton-Karfi Karfi central mosque, Saidu Suleiman Nuhu, told newsmen that the river Osugu over flooded its bank and destroyed many houses.

Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Jafar Ahmed, confirmed the story while speaking with newsmen in Koton Kafe.

The CG said the flood came at about 3a.m., submerging the perimeter fence and the walls of two cells. He said there were 228 inmates at the centre as at the time of the incident.

Ahmed said that the prison was not habitable at present, saying that some of the inmates who had been re-arrested were being transferred to other prison facilities in the state.

READ ALSO: Physically challenged students of Nasarawa varsity demand refund of tuition fee

He said that details of the incident will be made public later.

The Security Adviser to the state governor, retired Commodore Jerry Omadara, confirmed that over 100 of the inmates have been re-arrested.

According to him, some of the inmates returned of their own volition, some reported themselves at nearby Police stations, while a combined team of policemen, soldiers, naval officers and civil defence corps rearrested others.

Omodara said the state government was informed of the incident at about 4a.m., adding that Governor Yahaya Bello immediately directed head of security agencies in the state to deploy their personnel to the scene.

He said that 228 inmates escaped, noting that many of them escaped for the safety of their lives. He also added that security agents were still combing the bush to re-arrest some of the fleeing inmates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now