More than 118 inmates have reportedly escaped from a prison in Nigeria after heavy rains on Wednesday night.
The rains had damaged the facility in Suleja near the Nigerian capital, a prison service spokesperson said in a statement.
According to the prison spokesperson Adama Duza who confirmed this in a statement on Thursday, service agents are currently hunting the fugitives.
“A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday, April 24, 2024, has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centres, Suleja, Niger state, as well as surrounding buildings, destroying parts of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of 118 inmates of the facility,” the statement said.
10 of the prisoners have already been recaptured so far. “We are in hot chase to recapture the rest,” Duza said.
The prisons officials however said they recognise the vulnerability of aging facilities like the one in Suleja, many of which were built during the colonial era.
He said the state was committed to modernising infrastructures like that.
Nigerian officials have assured the public that the situation was under control and urged them to carry on with their daily activities without fear.
The statement however asked the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or sightings of escaped inmates to the nearest security agency.
Source: Africafeeds.com
