The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) reports that 118 convicts escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger state, on Wednesday amid a rainfall.
Adamu Duza, spokesperson for the NCoS‘s Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command, said on Thursday that the prison had been devastated by the rain.
He said that the command, in coordination with security agencies, had apprehended ten of the fleeing detainees, but expressed concern about the facility’s poor walls, which he claimed were built during the colonial era.
The statement reads:
“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 118 inmates of the facility.”
“The service has immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms, and in conjunction with sister security agencies, has so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody, while we are in hot pursuit 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 ensure that all ageing facilities give way to modern ones.”
He stated that Francis John, controller of corrections at FCT command, has advised the public to continue with their routine activities and that the service is working to resolve the matter.