JUST IN: Minister Visits Suleja Custodial Centre Over Escape of 119 Inmates

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has undertaken a tour of the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre to assess the extent of damage done to the facility by  rainfall on Wednesday night.

The minister’s visit was to obtain firsthand information on the incident and assess measures being taken to arrest the fleeing inmates and bring them back to the centre.

Sources said officials of the ministry including the director of joint services, Peter Egbodo, accompanied the minister, while top officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) were on hand to receive the minister and his team.

RovingNaija News gathered that no fewer than 119 inmates escaped from the Suleja facility following heavy rainfall and storm which pulled down parts of the facility including its perimeter fence.

The fleeing inmates made their way through the storm and escaped, creating panic among residents of Suleja and its environs.

Meanwhile, ten of the inmates have been arrested and returned to the facility, while a manhunt has been launched by the NCoS authorities together with sister security agencies to smoke out the fleeing escapees from their hideouts.

More security personnel have also been drafted to the surroundings of the facility while the areas have been cordoned off.