April 25, 2024
Nigeria More than 100 inmates escape from Nigeria prison after heavy rains
More than 100 inmates escaped from Suleja prison after overnight heavy rains destroyed parts of the facility, a prison official said Thursday as security agencies searched for the fugitives.
According to the authorities, 118 inmates originally fled the Suleja Prison but 10 have been re-captured.
A manhunt has been launched to find the others.
The identity of the prisoners is unclear at this point but there are fears that some might be dangerous.
However, a statement from the prison said they were working with other security agencies and that people should go about their normal activities without any fear.
- “In conjunction with sister security agencies [we] have so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody, while we are in hot chase to recapture the rest,” said a statement from Abuja’s prison authority.
There were fears the fugitives could find their way into the vast forests that connect Suleja with neighboring states, some of which are known hideouts for criminal gangs.
In addition to being overcrowded with 70% of the inmates still awaiting trial, most prisons in Nigeria are old, having been built during the colonial era before the West African nation’s independence from Britain in 1960.
The structures are rarely renovated, which has made it easier for inmates to escape during past jailbreaks. Thousands of inmates have escaped from prisons during such jailbreaks, including in Abuja where nearly 900 inmates broke free in 2022.
This is a developing news…
