The Minister of Interior, Mr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo
has admitted that the jailbreak at Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State where 119 inmates escaped was avoidable.
Recall that the Spokesman for Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), FCT Command, Adamu Duza had said in a statement that the facility was breached after hours of heavy downpour destroyed parts of the facility which was built during the colonial era.
The Minister said this during on-the spot assessment of the facility on Thursday afternoon when he said 10 other escapees had been recaptured and taken back into custody.
He said the Custodial Centre, was suppose to take 250 inmates, is overcrowded, noting that if intelligence report was sent to the appropriate authority in time.
Tunji-Ojo also revealed that the jailbreak represents a sober moment for the Ministry, stressing that “there are a lot of reporting lines. There are a lot of issues.
“This could have been avoided if the information was disseminated in time with regard to the structure.
“It wasn’t appropriate to make excuses for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“We will get them back.
We will secure our Correctional Centres and make sure that this does not happen anywhere else in Nigeria.
“This is a national issue that bother on national security.
“It is a sober moment for all of us, even our men in uniform”, he said.
The Minister states further that the federal government has taken steps to secure 246 Custodial Centres nationwide and make it comfortable for inmates.
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