By Daniel Tyokua
A heavy rainfall on Wednesday night wreaked havoc on Medium Correctional Service centre in Suleja, Niger state, leading to the escape of 118 inmates.
A statement issued on Thursday, by the spokesman, Federal Capital Territory Command, Adamu Duza, said the downpour destroyed part of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence.
It said the Service has immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms, and in conjunction with sister security agencies have so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody, while others are still on the run.
The statement said,” 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.
“It is making frantic efforts to see that all ageing facilities give way for modern ones. This is evidenced in the ongoing construction of six (6) number of 3000-capacity ultra-modern custodial centres in all the geo-political zones in Nigeria as well as the ongoing reconstruction and renovation of existing ones.
“The Service wishes to assure the public that it is on top of the situation and that they should go about their businesses without fear or hindrance. The public is further enjoined to look out for the fleeing inmates and report any suspicious movement to the nearest security agency”
However, the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo had on Thursday undertook a tour of the Custodial Centre to ascertain the extent of damage done to the facility by torrential rainfall.
Ten of the inmates have been arrested and returned to the facility, while a manhunt has been launched by the NCoS authorities
