In a statement, spokesman of the FCT Command of the NCoS, Adamu Duza, said efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing inmates.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) said on Thursday that 119 inmates have escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State.
This followed hours of heavy downpour which destroyed parts of the facility on Wednesday night.
In a statement, spokesman of the FCT Command of the NCoS, Adamu Duza, said efforts are ongoing to apprehend the fleeing inmates.
He said, “A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday, 24 April 2024 has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centre, 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 119 inmates of the facility”.
Duza said 10 fleeing inmates have been taken into custody.
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The spokesman said the NCoS is not unmindful of the fact that many of its facilities were built during the colonial era and that they are old and weak, adding that the NCoS is making frantic efforts to see that all ageing facilities give way to modern ones.
“This is evidenced in the ongoing construction of six 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,” said Duza.
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