Five of the fleeing inmates, who escaped from the Koton Karfe Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) in Kogi State this morning, have been captured. But seven are still on the run.
An official of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), told Atlantic Digest that three more inmates that were on the run have just been recaptured and returned to custody, bringing the number of recaptured inmates to five.
According to the service’s spokesman, Abubakar Umar, a search party made of all security agencies, including local vigilantes are in pursuit of the escaping inmates.
Umar disclosed that a search party has been deployed to all exit and entry routes in Kogi State. The search party is a combination of all the security agencies, including the local vigilantes.
Recall that the facility was breached earlier on Monday in a prison break, leading to the killing of a correctional officer on duty and the escape of 12 awaiting trial inmates.
The State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, in a statement, had promised that the state government will work with security operatives to unravel the cause of the break as well as ensure that those escapees were rearrested.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered an immediate investigation into the prison break.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, the Minister said government was committed to re-capturing all fleeing inmates by utilizing the service’s advanced biometric systems and existing technology solutions.
The minister directed the Acting Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, to travel to the facility to assess the situation and conduct a comprehensive audit to determine the circumstances surrounding the escape.
“We are on top of the situation. Our men are on ground in Kogi, and I have ordered a comprehensive audit of the situation,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
