10 Suleja Prison Inmates Recaptured, 109 At Large — NCOS

THE Nigerian Correctional Service (NCOS) has verified that 119 prisoners escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centers in Suleja, Niger State, on Wednesday night after a downpour damaged some of the building's infrastructure.

Nevertheless, NCOS claimed that as a result, it triggered its recapturing procedures and, working with sister security organizations, has so far apprehended 10 escaping prisoners and placed them under arrest while pursuing the remaining 109.

Following a rainfall that damaged portions of the old Suleja Correctional Centre in the Suleja local government area of Niger State on Wednesday night, MON DIARIES had reported that an unknown number of prisoners had escaped. About nine o'clock at night, a storm and torrential rainstorm devastated a portion of the detention center, which allowed many of the prisoners to flee.

However, a statement released on Thursday morning by DSC A.S. Duza, the spokesperson for NCOS FCT Command, stated that the Service was monitoring the situation and advised the public to proceed with their regular activities unafraid or impeded.

The Service is working feverishly to ensure that all aging facilities make way for modern ones, with the construction of six 3000-capacity ultra-modern custodial centers in all of the nation's geopolitical zones in addition to the ongoing reconstruction and renovation of existing ones. Duza pointed out that many NCOS facilities were built during the colonial era and that they are old and weak.

“A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday, 24 April 2024 has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centres, Suleja, Niger state, as well as surrounding buildings, destroying part of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of a total of one hundred and eighteen (119) inmates of the facility.

“The Service has immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms, and in conjunction with sister security agencies have so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody, while we are in hot chase to recapture the rest.

“The Service is not unmindful of the fact that many of its facilities were built during the colonial era, and that they are old and weak.

“The Service is making frantic efforts to see that all ageing facilities give way for modern ones.

“This is evidenced in the ongoing construction of six (6) number 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.

“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,” FCT Command's spokesperson stated.