Breaking: Prisoners escape from Kogi prison

Twelve inmates escaped in an early morning jailbreak at the Federal Correctional Centre in Kotonkarfe, Kogi State, on Monday.

Kogi State Information Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo, described the incident as “unfortunate” and assured citizens that the government, working with security agencies, would take steps to prevent a recurrence.

According to him, law enforcement agencies have re-arrested one of the escapees.

“The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns.

“This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system,” Fanwo said.

The commissioner said Governor Usman Ododo has asked security agencies to ensure such security breaches do not happen again.

“We call on the public to report any suspicious individuals in their communities. Anyone found harbouring an escaped inmate will be held accountable,” he warned.

“There is no cause for panic. We encourage citizens to go about their daily activities as normal, knowing that the security of lives and property remains our top priority,” Fanwo added

Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has directed an immediate investigation into a prison break incident at the Koton Karfe Correctional Centre in Kogi State.

The Minister pledged to ensure that all fleeing inmates are captured leveraging the service’s robust biometrics and already deployed technology solutions.

A statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Minister of Interior, Babatunde Alao, on Monday, March 24 reads: “The Minister of Interior, Hon. (Dr.) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered immediate probe into the unfortunate prison break incident at the Koton Karfe Correctional Centre in Kogi State.

“The Minister describes the incident as unfortunate, and vows to ensure all fleeing inmates are captured leveraging the service’s robust biometrics and already deployed technology solutions.

“The Minister has also ordered the Acting Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Ndidi, to visit the facility in Kogi to evaluate the situation, and commence a comprehensive audit to unravel the events that led to the incident.

” ‘We are on top of the situation. Our men are on ground in Kogi, and I have ordered a comprehensive audit of the situation’, ” he said.