Prison Break: Twelve Escape Koton Karfe Custodial Centre

* Interior Minister orders immediate probe

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

Twelve inmates have reportedly escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Koton Karfe, Kogi State following an early morning jail break.

THISDAY was gathered that the incident occurred early Monday morning.

Confirming the report to journalists, the national spokesman of the service, Abubakar Umar, said that all the escapees were Awaiting Trial Inmates (ATI), adding that two have been captured, while efforts are underway to arrest the remaining 10.

He said all search mechanisms have been activated to recapture the fleeing inmates.

He said: “Twelve of the inmates in our custody at the Koton Karfe Medium Custodial Centre have escaped. They are all on awaiting trial but as I speak to you now, two have been captured.

“We are already working to capture the remaining inmates on the run.”

Umar lamented that one officer was killed in the attack.

Meanwhile, the  Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered an immediate probe into the unfortunate prison break.

The minister described the incident as unfortunate and vowed to ensure all fleeing inmates are captured, leveraging the service’s robust biometrics and already deployed technology solutions.

The minister, according to a statement by his spokesman, Babatunde Alao, has also ordered the Acting Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Ndidi, to visit the facility in Kogi to evaluate the situation, and commence a comprehensive audit to unravel the events that led to the incident.

He said: “We are on top of the situation. Our men are on ground in Kogi, and I have ordered a comprehensive audit of the situation.”