Heavy Rains Damage Suleja Prison, Leading to Escape of 119 Inmates

[Scholar]

A heavy downpour on Wednesday night severely damaged parts of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger state, resulting in the escape of 119 inmates. The downpour destroyed the facility's perimeter fence and surrounding buildings.

Adamu Duza, spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service, confirmed the incident on Thursday. He stated that the downpour caused significant damage to the facility, enabling the escape of 118 inmates.

Following the escape, the Correctional Service activated its recapturing mechanisms. In collaboration with other security agencies, they have recaptured 10 of the fleeing inmates and continue to pursue the rest.

Duza acknowledged the age and condition of many of the Service's facilities, noting that they were built during the colonial era and are now showing signs of wear and tear. He reassured the public of ongoing efforts to replace ageing facilities with modern ones. Currently, construction is underway for six new 3000-capacity ultra-modern custodial centres across Nigeria, along with the renovation of existing facilities.

Despite the unfortunate incident, Duza urged the public to remain calm and vigilant. He encouraged citizens to report any suspicious movements or sightings of the fleeing inmates to the nearest security agency.

Source : Vanguard