•Prison
Sixteen inmates of the Medium security custodial centre, Keffi, Nasarawa State, have escaped from the facility after launching attacks on personnel of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) within the facility.
It was gathered that five of the personnel sustained varying degrees of injuries following the attacks, reports The Nation.
The Public Relations Officer of the Service, Umar Abubakar, confirmed the incident in a statement issued in Abuja, saying the attacks occurred in the early hours of today.
Abubakar said, “Some inmates breached the security of the facility and attacked personnel on duty to compromise the situation.”
He also explained, “In the course of containing the situation, five personnel of the Custodial Centre sustained varying degrees of injury, with two currently serious and receiving urgent medical attention at a government health facility”.
He, however, said seven of the fleeing inmates have been recaptured and are now in custody.
“The Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, has visited the facility and has ordered a thorough investigation into the escape.
“He said no staff will be spared if found culpable. Furthermore, he has directed an immediate search to recapture the fleeing inmates in collaboration with sister security agencies.
“Members of the public are hereby urged to remain calm, vigilant, and to promptly report any suspicious movements or sightings of fleeing inmates to the nearest security formation,” Abubakar, a Deputy Controller of Corrections, said.
Abubakar said preliminary investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the escape, reassuring the public of the Service’s unwavering commitment to public safety and the security of all custodial facilities nationwide.
