The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) has intensified efforts to recapture escaped inmates from the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre in Niger State. Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo stated that the government plans to relocate and upgrade correctional centres to improve infrastructure and security.
Tunji-Ojo made this pledge during a visit to the Niger custodial centre, where 119 inmates escaped following a rainstorm that damaged the facility on Wednesday. The minister emphasized the need to relocate correctional centres to conducive environments, citing overcrowding and inadequate infrastructure.
The Suleja facility, built in 1914, was designed to house 250 inmates but held 499 before the incident. The minister acknowledged the urgent need for reforms in the over 240 custodial centres nationwide.
The Nigeria Correctional Service has recaptured 14 of the escaped inmates, with efforts ongoing to recapture the remaining 105. The service is working with other security agencies to synergize and collaborate on the recapture efforts.
Tunji-Ojo attributed the breach to a natural disaster and emphasized the government’s commitment to returning the escaped inmates to custody. The minister also recognized the need for preventative measures, acknowledging the role of ageing infrastructure in the incident.
The Nigeria Correctional Service is constructing new facilities to replace old ones, including six ultra-modern custodial centres in each geo-political zone. The service will soon display the names and pictures of the fleeing inmates on its website and is collaborating with other security agencies to recapture the remaining inmates.
Security officials have recaptured a total of 50 inmates as of Thursday night, and efforts are ongoing to intensify recapture efforts, including monitoring Internally Displaced Persons camps. Nigeria’s prisons face challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, overcrowding, and deteriorating facilities, which have contributed to frequent jailbreaks.
