The Federal Correctional Centre in Kotonkarfe, Kogi State witnessed another jailbreak as 12 inmates escaped in the early hours of Monday.
On Sunday November 2, 2014, the Kotonkarfe prison was attacked by unknown gunmen while a total of 144 inmates were freed. There was 145 inmates in the prison as at the time of the attack with 119 being awaiting trial while 26 were convicts.
On July 29, 2016, a jail break in the prison led to 13 inmates escaping.
On November 2019, about 122 inmates fled the prison after a section of the facility was overrun by flood following a downpour
On Monday morning, the Kogi State Government, who confirmed the jailbreak in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, commended the swift response of security agencies, just as it described the incident as “unfortunate.”
Assuring citizens that the State government is taking decisive steps to prevent a recurrence, it vowed to work with security agencies to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“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,” Fanwo said.
Fanwo added that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has directed the State Security Adviser to collaborate with the Federal Correctional Centre and other security agencies to ensure such security breaches do not happen again.
The State government has also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting federal security agencies through logistics and other necessary resources to enhance their operational effectiveness.
While investigations continue, the government has assured residents that the situation is under control.
“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,” he added.