Minister probes Kogi jailbreak

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered an immediate investigation into the jailbreak at the Koton Karfe Correctional Centre in Kogi State.

The minister described the incident as “unfortunate” and assured Nigerians that all escaped inmates would be recaptured using advanced biometric technology and other security measures.

In a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media, Babatunde Alao, Tunji-Ojo emphasised the government’s determination to uncover the circumstances surrounding the prison break.

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He also directed the Acting Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi, to visit the facility and conduct a comprehensive security audit.

“We are on top of the situation. Our men are on ground in Kogi, and I have ordered a comprehensive audit of the situation,” the minister stated.

He further assured Nigerians that the authorities would leave no stone unturned in tracking down the fleeing inmates.

“All necessary measures, including our robust biometric database and existing technology solutions, will be deployed to recapture every escaped inmate,” he added.

In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) account, Tunji-Ojo reiterated his commitment to ensuring accountability within the correctional system.

“The jailbreak at Koton Karfe is unfortunate, but we will get to the root of it. We will not allow breaches like this to go unchecked. Every fugitive will be found and brought to justice,” he wrote.

Meanwhile, the minister assured the public of strengthened security at correctional facilities across the country to prevent future occurrences.

He reaffirmed that the Nigerian Correctional Service would be held accountable for lapses and that corrective measures would be swiftly implemented.

The Koton Karfe jailbreak is the latest in a series of prison security breaches in Nigeria, raising concerns over the safety and management of correctional facilities.

However, Tunji-Ojo maintained that his ministry is committed to enforcing stricter security measures.