At least 12 inmates at the Koton Karfe Medium Security Prison in Kogi State staged a daring jailbreak on Monday, killing a correctional officer and overpowering two others before escaping through a collapsed window section.
According to eyewitness reports, the inmates tied up the prison officers and strangled one before making their way out unchallenged. Reinforcements arrived too late to prevent their escape.
Government’s Response and Recapture Efforts
The acting Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Nwakuche, who visited the facility, confirmed that five of the 12 escapees had already been recaptured.
“We regret the unfortunate loss of one of our officers at the hands of the inmates. However, a manhunt has been launched to track down the remaining escapees,” Nwakuche said, urging the public to provide any useful information to security agencies.
Authorities disclosed that the recaptured inmates were assisting in the investigation to determine how the jailbreak occurred.
Kogi State Government Reacts
The Kogi State government described the jailbreak as “unfortunate” and raised concerns about the circumstances of the escape.
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, questioned how the inmates could have escaped “through the tower without causing structural damage.”
“This calls for a thorough investigation to identify possible internal sabotage and ensure those responsible are brought to justice,” Fanwo stated.
Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed the State Security Adviser to work with correctional officials and other security agencies to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Fanwo also urged residents to be vigilant, warning that anyone found harboring an escaped inmate would face legal consequences.
Federal Government Orders Investigation
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the jailbreak, vowing that all escapees would be recaptured using the correctional service’s biometric tracking and other security technologies.
A statement from his media aide, Babatunde Alao, confirmed that the acting Comptroller-General of NCoS had been instructed to conduct a security audit across all correctional facilities in the country to prevent future jailbreaks.
Recurring Jailbreaks at Koton Karfe Correctional Centre
The Koton Karfe prison has a history of security breaches.
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In 2012, an explosion led to a mass escape, including the high-profile Boko Haram suspect, Kabir Sokoto.
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On July 30, 2016, 13 inmates escaped after breaking through their cells. Five were later recaptured.
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Just last month, five escapees were rearrested after a previous attempt.
With security agencies on high alert, efforts are underway to recapture the remaining escapees and tighten security at correctional facilities nationwide.
