By Clement Adeyi, Abuja
The Federal Government says it is considering relocating the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State, following the jailbreak that saw the escape of 119 inmates.
During a visit to the centre yesterday, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed that the facility houses 499 inmates, as opposed to the expected 250 that it was initially built for.
He confirmed that a total of 119 inmates escaped, adding that 13 had been recaptured.
With the recapture of 13, there are 106 inmates still at large.
He said the facility management would publish the names and pictures of the escaped inmates from the centre.
A torrential downpour had earlier yesterday wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centre resulting in extensive damage to the facility.
The downpour caused severe damage to the custodial centre’s infrastructure, including a breach in the perimeter fence, allowing some of the inmates to flee.
A spokesperson for the NCoS, Federal Capital Territory, Adamu Duza, said the command was collaborating with other security agencies to recapture the remaining fleeing inmates, adding that their database would soon be made known to the public.
Duza added that the incident occurred by 9pm when the storm accompanied by heavy rain, shattered parts of the old Suleja custodial centre, making it easy for many inmates to escape from the facility.
He, however, said that there was ongoing construction 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.
“A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday has wreaked havoc on the medium security Custodial Centre Suleja, Niger State, as well as surrounding buildings destroying parts of the custodian facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of a total of 118 inmates of the facility,” he said.
He added that the Service had immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms in conjunction with sister security agencies and had so far recaptured some fleeing inmates and taken them into custody.
Duza said many of the facilities were built during the Colonial era and are very weak.
“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,” Duza said.
The FCT spokesperson assured the public that the command was on top of the situation, and urged residents to go about their businesses without fear or hindrance.
He also enjoined the public to look out for the fleeing inmates and report any suspicious movement to the nearest security agency.
The Comptroller of Corrections (FCT) Command, Francis John, also assured the public that the Service was on top of the situation and that they should go about their normal businesses without fear or hindrance.
