Details have emerged on how 119 prisoners in Suleja Medium Custodial Centre in Niger State allegedly fled following a heavy downpour that lasted hours and damaged parts of the prison facility.
10 of the fleeing prisoners have since been recaptured, according to a custodial service spokesman.
Over 100 of them are believed to be on the loose among Abuja, Niger and Kaduna States.
The after-effects of the downpour affected other parts of the ancient town, contiguous villages, as well parts of Abuja, destroying homes and properties in the Bwari Area Council. Kubwa town, which lies in a valley between Zuba town in Niger State and the Federal Capital City was also badly hit, with homes losing their roofs.
Said AS Duza, a Deputy Superintendent of Corrections and FCT Command Public Relations Officer: “A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday, 24 April 2024 has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centres, Suleja, Niger state, as well as surrounding buildings, destroying part of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of a total of one hundred and eighteen (119) inmates of the facility.
“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, while we are in hot chase to recapture the rest.
“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.”