Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Minister of Interior, has pointed to the negligence of some officers as the cause of the recent prison break at the federal correctional center in Koton Karfe, Kogi state.
This follows an incident on Monday where around 12 inmates managed to escape during a jailbreak.
The Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, had confirmed the breakout, which prompted an immediate response from Tunji-Ojo.
The minister quickly ordered an investigation, emphasizing the use of advanced biometric systems and existing technologies to track down the escapees. As of Thursday, the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) reported that five out of the 12 escapees had been recaptured. Tunji-Ojo, speaking on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today,’ clarified that there had been no external attack, attributing the jailbreak to “insider involvement” and confirming no walls had been breached.
He reassured the public that the incident resulted from internal negligence and not deliberate action, though the investigation is still ongoing. The minister noted that improvements to the facility’s perimeter fencing, under the current administration, have ensured the security of the center. As of now, seven of the escapees have been re-arrested, with the help of improved biometric capabilities and coordination with other agencies.
Kogi State Governor Usman Ododo has also taken steps to prevent future breaches by directing the state’s security adviser to collaborate with federal correctional authorities and security agencies.
He has urged the public to remain calm as authorities continue to manage the situation.
