As heavy rain demolish Suleja Prisons, 119 prisoners manage to escape
Following hours of intense rain on Wednesday night that partially damaged the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger state, no fewer than 119 prisoners have managed to flee.
This was revealed in a statement released on Thursday morning by Adamu Duza, the spokesman for the Nigeria Correctional Service’s Federal Capital Territory Command (FCTCoS).
“The Medium Security Custodial Centre, Suleja, Niger state, as well as surrounding buildings have suffered havoc from a heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on Wednesday, April 24, 2024,” he said. “Part of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, has been destroyed, allowing a total of 118 inmates to escape from the facility.”
He claims that the Service immediately went into recapturing mode and, working with sister security agencies, was able to apprehend and hold 10 of the escaping inmates while actively pursuing the remaining ones.
Duza stated that the Service is making desperate attempts to ensure that all aging facilities make way for new ones, noting that the Service is cognizant of the fact that many of its facilities were constructed during the colonial era and are aging and weak.
