Kogi Prison Break
Following the recent incident of Kogi Prison Break, The Nigerian government has launched an immediate investigation into the jailbreak at the Federal Correctional Center in Kotonkarfe, Kogi State, where 12 inmates escaped in the early hours of Monday.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, described the Kogi prison break incident as “unfortunate” and assured Nigerians that all escaped inmates would be recaptured using advanced biometric technology and other security measures.
In a statement released on X by his Special Adviser on Media, Babatunde Alao, the minister directed the Acting Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi, to visit the facility and conduct a comprehensive security audit.
Related: BREAKING! 12 Inmates Escape from Kogi Prison in Early Morning Jailbreak
“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.
He further emphasized the government’s commitment to uncovering the circumstances behind the escape, vowing that no fugitive would evade recapture.
“All necessary measures, including our robust biometric database and existing technology solutions, will be deployed to track down every escaped inmate,” he assured.
Meanwhile, Kogi’s Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, praised security agencies for their swift response and reiterated the state government’s commitment to preventing future security breaches.
Fanwo noted concerns over how the inmates managed to flee without causing structural damage, calling for an in-depth investigation into possible internal sabotage.
Governor Ahmed Ododo has instructed the State Security Adviser to work closely with federal correctional authorities to strengthen prison security.
The state government has also pledged logistical support to security agencies to enhance their effectiveness.
The Koton Karfe jailbreak is the latest in a series of prison security breaches in Nigeria, raising concerns over the safety and management of correctional facilities.
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Tunji-Ojo further reaffirmed that the Nigerian Correctional Service would be held accountable for any lapses, and stricter security measures would be enforced across the country.
In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, the minister wrote:
“The jailbreak at Koton Karfe is unfortunate, but we will get to the root of it. We will not allow breaches like this to go unchecked. Every fugitive will be found and brought to justice.”
Tunji-Ojo also directed the Acting Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Ndidi, to visit the facility and conduct a comprehensive security audit to prevent future breaches.
The NCoS confirmed that five of the twelve escaped inmates have been recaptured, while security agencies are intensifying efforts to track down the remaining seven.
According to NCoS spokesperson Abubakar Umar, the escape was facilitated when a group of inmates manipulated padlocks in one section of the prison, leading to the breach.
Upon learning of the incident, the Acting Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, mobilized a swift response in collaboration with security agencies and the Kogi State Government. Security personnel were deployed to restore order and initiate a manhunt.
Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting federal security agencies with logistics and resources to enhance prison security.
Fanwo emphasized concerns over how the inmates managed to escape without causing structural damage, calling for a thorough probe into possible internal sabotage.
Meanwhile, authorities have urged residents to report any suspicious activities that may aid in the recapture of the remaining fugitives.
