The Federal Government says seven of the 16 inmates who escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Keffi (New) in Nasarawa State, have been recaptured, while a manhunt is underway for the remaining nine.
The escape occurred in the early hours of Tuesday when a group of inmates attacked warders on duty, overpowering them and enabling others to flee.
Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) spokesperson Abubakar Umar confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that five officers sustained injuries—two critically—and are receiving urgent treatment at a government hospital.
Read Also: Over 6bn people hit by internet shutdowns since 2015
A swift security response led to the immediate rearrest of seven escapees. “Security operations involving the police, military, and other agencies have been launched to track down the remaining fugitives,” the statement added.
Controller General of Corrections Sylvester Nwakuche, who visited the facility on Tuesday to assess the situation, ordered a full-scale investigation into the breach.
He warned that any personnel found to have acted negligently or in collusion with the inmates would face strict disciplinary action.
Nwakuche urged residents of Nasarawa and neighbouring communities to remain calm but vigilant and to report any suspicious movement to the nearest security formation. He stressed that the NCoS remains committed to strengthening security in all custodial centres nationwide to prevent similar incidents.
