Osamagbe Imadiyi
Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the interior minister, has ordered an immediate investigation into the early Monday morning break-in at the Koton Karfe Correctional Center in Kogi State.
Tunji-Ojo referred to the event as “unfortunate” and gave Nigerians the assurance that all escaped prisoners would be apprehended using cutting-edge biometric technology and additional security measures. 12 inmates were able to escape the jail when inmates tampered with padlocks in one area of the building.
“The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered an immediate probe into the unfortunate prison break incident at the Koton Karfe Correctional Centre in Kogi State,” according to a statement issued Monday by his Special Adviser on Media, Babatunde Alao.
“The minister calls the incident regrettable and promises to use the service’s strong biometrics and already-implemented technological solutions to ensure that all escaping prisoners are apprehended.”
In order to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident, the minister also directed Sylvester Ndidi, the acting Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, to visit the Kogi facility, evaluate the situation, and begin a comprehensive audit.
In a statement, NCoS spokesperson Abubakar Umar confirmed the escape and said local security agencies and the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Kogi State collaborated to quicken the acting Controller General of Corrections’ response.
Staff were sent to guard the building, bring everything under control, and start a manhunt for the fugitives. The statement further indicated that a comprehensive investigation had been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the escape. A nationwide security audit of all correctional facilities is also underway in an effort to stop future occurrences of this kind.
The NCoS gave the public the assurance that efforts were underway to improve security at custodial facilities across the country. Additionally, the service urged the public to notify the authorities of any suspicious activity in order to aid in the capture of the remaining fugitives.
With four separate incidents reported in the last ten years, the Koton Karfe Correctional Center in Kogi State has seen a concerning trend of jailbreaks over the past ten years. The increasing number of these escapes not only jeopardizes public safety but also reveals structural problems with the state’s prison administration and maintenance.
