At least 97 inmates are still at large following a flood at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Koton Karfe in Kogi state although no life was lost.
The flood which was as a result of the heavy rain on Koton Karfe and its environs became an escape route for inmates of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Koton Karfe.
Although over 100 inmates have been recaptured and successfully evacuated to safer locations others are still at large.
The Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Ja’afaru Ahmed who gave an evacuation order when he visited the centre for on the spot assessment said no life was lost in a statement signed by O.F. Enobore, Controller of Corrections, PRO said.
“A torrential down pour on Monday 28th October, 2019 caused a surging flood that over ran the centre at about 0200hrs pulling down a section of the perimeter fence,” the statement said.
“The inmates’ cells and offices were also submerged forcing some of the inmates to break out of custody for safety.
“At the time of the incident, the facility had a total of 227 inmates. While 122 used the opportunity to escape, 105 of them stayed back. However, 25 of the escapees have been recaptured leaving 97 still at large.
“The efforts of the government and good people of Kogi State including officers and men of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy, Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the local vigilante in the community in assisting personnel of the Correctional Service to carry out search and rescue operation is highly appreciated.
“While assuring the safety of inmates in other facilities in the State and indeed other parts of the country, the Controller-General wishes to appeals to members of the public to provide useful intelligence that will facilitate swift recapture of the fleeing inmates.”
