A cumulative 14 fleeing inmates of prison have been recaptured so far after they escaped from the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre in Niger State.
The Spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Adamu Duza, made this known to reporters on Thursday evening.
The Daily Crucible reported that over 117 inmates had escaped from the Suleja medium security custodial centre on night Wednesday night after hours – long heavy downpour pommeled and battered parts of the facility.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) which confirmed the incident, attributed the the enabling facility to a torrential rainfall that wrecked havoc on the Centre, adding that 10 of the inmates have been arrested and brought back to the facility.
However, additional four inmates were rearrested, bringing the total number of fleeing inmates recaptured so far to 14.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo who visited the centre to survey the damage caused by a severe downpour at the custodial centre in Suleja, highlighted the urgent need for reforms in over 240 custodial centres across the country.
Tunji-Ojo pledged the Federal Government’s commitment to bringing the remaining fleeing inmates back into custody.
But giving the latest updates, the Public Relations Officer of the Federal Capital Territory Command of the NCoS , Sampson Duza said, “Our intelligence officers, armed squadron officers, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, DSS, and other security agencies, are combing neighbouring communities to find the fleeing inmates.
“14 fleeing inmates have been recaptured so far. The search is still going on.”
