Over 100 Inmates Flee After Heavy Rain Damages Nigerian Prison
According to a prison service spokesperson, heavy rainfall on Wednesday night caused damage to the facility in Suleja near Nigeria’s capital, resulting in the escape of at least 118 inmates from the prison.
In a statement on Thursday, spokesperson Adamu Duza reported that the heavy rain, which persisted for several hours, caused damage to areas of the medium-security prison, affecting the perimeter wall and nearby structures.
The service agents, with the assistance of other security agencies, were pursuing the fugitives and had successfully apprehended 10 of them.
“We are in hot chase to recapture the rest,” Duza said.
He assured the public the authorities were on top of the situation.
“The public is further enjoined to look out for the fleeing inmates and report any suspicious movement to the nearest security agency,” he said.
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Duza did not provide specific information about the identities or affiliations of the escaped inmates. However, Suleja prison has previously housed members of the Boko Haram Islamist insurgent group.
In Nigeria, prison escapes have become a significant security issue due to overcrowded facilities, inadequate funding, and weak security protocols that provide opportunities for inmates to flee.
In recent years, a significant number of inmates have escaped due to inadequate infrastructure and attacks from militant groups. A notable incident occurred in July 2022 when the Islamic State targeted a high-security prison in the capital city of Abuja, leading to the escape of approximately 440 inmates.
“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,” Duza said.
He added that the service is making “frantic efforts” to modernize its prisons, including the construction of six 3,000-capacity facilities and the revamping of existing ones.
Over 100 Inmates Flee After Heavy Rain Damages Nigerian Prison