More than 100 prisoners escape as heavy rains damage prison wall
More than 100 prisoners escape as Heavy Rains damage prison Wall in Nigeria
More than 100 prisoners have escaped from a jail near Nigeria’s capital after heavy rain damaged part of the facility where they were housed, as well as the perimeter fence.
According to the authorities, 118 inmates originally fled the Suleja Prison but 10 have been re-captured.
A manhunt has been launched to find the others.
The identity of the prisoners is unclear at this point but there are fears that some might be dangerous.
However, a statement from the prison said they were working with other security agencies and that people should go about their normal activities without any fear.
“In conjunction with sister security agencies [we] have so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody, while we are in hot chase to recapture the rest,” said a statement from Abuja’s prison authority.
It pointed out that many of the prison facilities in Suleja, about 50km (30 miles) from Abuja were built during the colonial era and therefore have become old and weak.
Wednesday’s downpour, which lasted several hours, came at the start of the rainy season following a recent heatwave.
Nigeria’s meteorological agency recently released a warning of heavy rains and flooding in some states.
Two years ago more than 400 prisoners escaped following a raid on another prison in Abuja.
Four inmates, a security guard, and several attackers were killed after the prison was targeted, according to officials.
At the time Islamist fighters said they attacked to free some of their members.
More than 5,000 inmates have escaped during prison breaks in Nigeria since 2020.
Many Nigerian prisons are overcrowded and lack basic amenities, although authorities say they are working to fix the issues.Many inmates have never been convicted of any crimes – they can wait for their trial to start for years on end. One prison recently said that up to 70% of its inmates were awaiting trial.
In a significant security breach, over 100 inmates have escaped from a Nigerian prison following heavy rainfall that damaged the prison walls. The incident occurred at the Suleja prison near Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, where the torrential downpour wreaked havoc on the facility’s infrastructure, leading to the escape of at least 118 prisoners
The escape highlights the challenges faced by correctional facilities in dealing with natural disasters and maintaining security. The compromised perimeter fence allowed the inmates to flee, prompting a large-scale manhunt by authorities. So far, 10 escapees have been recaptured, and efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining individuals
This event raises concerns about the state of prison infrastructure and the need for modernization to prevent such occurrences. Many of Nigeria’s prisons were built during the colonial era and have since become outdated and vulnerable to damage. The Nigerian prison service has acknowledged these issues and is reportedly making efforts to modernize the facilities, including the construction of new high-capacity prisons and the renovation of existing ones[5].
Public safety is a primary concern following the escape, especially considering the identities of the prisoners, which have not been disclosed. In the past, Suleja prison has held members of the Boko Haram Islamist insurgent group, adding to the potential risks associated with the escape
Prison breaks in Nigeria have become increasingly common, with thousands of inmates escaping in recent years due to weak infrastructure and militant attacks. For instance, a July 2022 attack on a high-security prison in Abuja resulted in around 440 inmates being freed. These incidents underscore the urgent need for improvements in the security and infrastructure of Nigerian prisons to ensure the safety of both the inmates and the general public.
In collaboration with other security agencies, the Nigerian prison service is actively pursuing the recaptured inmates and has urged the public to report any suspicious activity. The situation remains fluid, and updates are expected as the search continues[6].
