A prison break has occurred in the Federal Correctional Centre in Kotonkarfe, headquarters of Kogi Local Government Area of Kogi State, in the early hours of Monday.
Though the number of escapees has not been officially declared, the government has pinned it to not less than 12 inmates.
Unlike in previous years, when gunmen came to break free some inmates, this time, the prison break worked seamlessly, as the inmates were said to have escaped through the tower.
Though officials of the facility have declined to comment, the Kogi State government has confirmed the story, urging the Federal Government to probe the ugly development.
Kogi state information commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo, described the incident as “unfortunate”.
He assured citizens that the government, working with security agencies, would take steps to prevent a recurrence. According to him, law enforcement agencies have re-arrested one of the escapees.
Fanwo said: “The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns.
“This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system.”
Jailbreak: Kogi governor gives directive
Furthermore, the commissioner said Governor Usman Ododo has asked security agencies to ensure such security breaches do not happen again.
Fanwo added: “We call on the public to report any suspicious individuals in their communities. Anyone found harbouring an escaped inmate will be held accountable,” he warned.
“There is no cause for panic. We encourage citizens to go about their daily activities as normal, knowing that the security of lives and property remains our top priority.”
