TheNewsGuru

Tag: Inmates

  • One dies, few injured as security operatives repel jailbreak attempt in Port Harcourt

    One dies, few injured as security operatives repel jailbreak attempt in Port Harcourt

    Some Inmates at the Port Harcourt correctional center tried to escape when a fight broke out amongst them.

    Findings show that the fight resulted into attempted jailbreak from some inmates on Monday afternoon but got repelled by combined team of security operatives attached to the prison.

    In the process of trying to escape, 12 inmates sustained gun shot injuries and are receiving treatment at the moment.

    It was gathered that two inmates were engaged in a fight leading to the death of one of them, even as a protest ensued amongst other inmates.

    The spokesperson for the correctional facility in Port Harcourt, Juliet Ofoni confirms the incident, assuring that the situation is under control.

  • Jailbreak: Four inmates allegedly killed, prison official injured in Osun

    Jailbreak: Four inmates allegedly killed, prison official injured in Osun

    Four inmates have died at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Kosere Area, Ile-Ife, during an attempted jailbreak.

    A top security officer who spoke on anonymity made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ile-Ife on Tuesday.

    The official said that some inmates had planned to escape during the morning sanitation and while attempting to flee the centre, injured a warder.

    He explained that the inmates were about to force their way out when security men repelled them, killing four of them in the process., while others who wanted to escape ran back.

    When contacted, Mr Sola Adeotan, Spokesperson, Osun Command of the correctional service, said that it was a rumour as there was no information on the incident.

    However, the Police Public Relations Officer, Osun Command, Ms Yemisi Opalola, confirmed the incident but pleaded for more time to get the details.

  • JUST IN: One shot as security operatives foil attempt to free prison inmates at Lagos court

    JUST IN: One shot as security operatives foil attempt to free prison inmates at Lagos court

    The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Lagos State, on Wednesday confirmed an attack on its personnel at the Lagos High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), during the hearing for inmates.

    The Lagos state NCoS spokesperson, Mr Olarotimi Oladokun, confirmed the attack in an interview with newsmen in Lagos, saying the attack was staged by persons suspected to be associates of an inmate with a view to free him.

    He further confirmed that one of the attackers was shot while trying to dispossess armed personnel of his rifle.

    He said the attackers intended to forcefully free an inmate while at the premises of the court.

    According to Oladokun, the Controller of Corrections (CC), NCoS Lagos, Mr Adewale Adebisi, quickly deployed a task force to the court premises to ensure that no inmate escaped.

    “This quick response and vigilance of the NCoS court escorts thwarted their attempt,” he said.

    He further confirmed that all inmates were successfully returned to custody of the custodial centre.

    “The NCoS Lagos Controller praised the gallant officers for resisting the attack and securing all inmates back to custody.

    “The controller also assured the public that the security of Lagos custodial Centres remains intact.

    ”He further commended other security agencies, especially the Nigerian Police Force (NPF) and the Nigerian Army for their timely response to restore normalcy,” Oladokun said.

  • Abolongo jail break: We’ll recapture all escaped inmates – Aregbesola

    Abolongo jail break: We’ll recapture all escaped inmates – Aregbesola

    The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has promised to recapture all inmates who escaped from the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) Custodial Centre, Abolongo, Oyo State.

    A statement by the Media Adviser to the Minister, Mr Sola Fasure, stated that Aregbesola made the promise while on an inspection visit to the facility on Sunday in Oyo.

    The minister assured Nigerians that the Federal Government would pursue not just those who attacked the facility, but those who escaped lawful custody.

    “The attack was unconscionable. I commend officers of the service and other members of sister security agencies who provided perimeter security for our facility for fighting gallantly and holding the fort before the attackers were able to gain access to the awaiting trial section of the facility.

    “However, those who escaped are already being pursued. Some have been re-arrested, many more will still be captured,” the minister added.

    Aregbesola, however, noted that 446 out of 907 escapees had already been re-captured, while 69 remained in the facility.

    “As at the last count, 446 of the escapees have been re-captured, leaving 392 still at large.

    “We want to assure Nigerians that the service has an updated database of the escapees which include their biometrics.

    “We are sharing the database with all security agencies in the country, including the Interpol, so those who escaped our re-capture efforts can be nabbed.

    “To those on the run, be assured you have nowhere to hide. You can run, but you can’t hide. We’ll fish you out.

    “We are publishing details of those who escaped in the mass media so the public can assist in that effort,” he stressed.

    On the effort to rebuild the damaged portions of the facility, the minister said that he had directed the NCoS to immediately commence remediation work.

    “I have instructed the C-G of NCoS to immediately begin the reconstruction of the damaged parts of the building. We hope to make the facility better secured and more habitable for the inmates.

    Also, the Controller-General of NCoS, Haliru Nababa, noted that so far, the service had successfully prevented internal jailbreaks in all its facilities.

    “The NCoS has so far prevented internal jailbreaks in the country. What we have reoccurring in recent times are external attacks on our facilities.

    “We have been retraining our officers not just on securing those in lawful custody, but preventing external attacks.

    “We are collaborating with other security agencies in the country to make such attacks are near impossible and where they do occur, the attackers will not live to regret it,” he stated.

    On the instruction given by the minister to immediately commence remediation work on the facility, Nababa said that work had begun in earnest already.

    “As you can see, workers are already on site fixing damaged doors, broken windows and mounting walls. Before the end of today, work would have been completed on it,” Nababa added.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a large number of heavily armed gunmen attacked the Abolongo Custodial Centre at about 10 p.m. on Saturday, in which several inmates escaped.

  • Kogi jailbreak: 114 escaped inmates recaptured, 126 still at large

    Kogi jailbreak: 114 escaped inmates recaptured, 126 still at large

    At total of 114 out of 240 inmates who escaped from the Kabba Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kogi State have been recaptured.

    “Following the attack on the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Kabba in Kogi State on 12th September, 2021 and the swift intervention of the Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa mni, a total of 114 escapees have been recaptured,” Spokesman of the Correctional Service, Francis Enobore, said in a statement made available to Channels Television on Tuesday.

    “The CG who personally led a team to the Custodial Centre for on-the-spot assessment, directed an immediate Search Party Response Team to go after the escapees even as Security has been beefed up through the deployment of additional Armed Squad personnel to fortify the facility,” he added.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that heavily armed gunmen stormed the facility late on Sunday, freeing 240 inmates.

    It was unclear who the gunmen were but criminal gangs have terrorised central and northwest Nigeria for years.

    Large prison outbreaks are also not uncommon in the country.

    On April 5, gunmen raided the Owerri police headquarters, in Imo State, freeing more than 1,800 inmates.

    In addition to fighting criminal gangs who also kidnap people for ransom and rustle cattle, security forces in the country are facing a violent jihadist insurgency in the northeast and separatist agitation in the southeast.

  • FG engages interpol to track, recapture Kogi fleeing inmates

    FG engages interpol to track, recapture Kogi fleeing inmates

    The federal government has mobilized a special taskforce from INTERPOL to recapture fleeing Kogi State inmates.

    No fewer than 240 inmates had escaped following an attack on the medium security custodial centre in Kabba area of the state by unknown gunmen at the early hours of Monday.

    However, speaking on the development, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said that efforts are ongoing to bring them back into custody.

    According to a statement by Sola Fasure, Media Adviser to the Minister, the government has put INTERPOL on notice with the details of the inmates, in case any of them attempts fleeing to other countries.

    “A Crisis Response Centre has been activated and a special taskforce mobilized to recapture escaped inmates whilst an Inter-Agency Security Task Force is already on the trail of the gunmen who attacked the facility.

    “We shall leave no stone unturned to bring them back to custody.

    “We are also putting INTERPOL on notice with their details, in case any of them attempts fleeing outside our shores.

    “We urge the people, especially the communities around the custodial facility, to be vigilant and report any strange and suspicious persons or activities to the nearest law enforcement agency.

    “The public is advised to stay calm as the situation is under control,” the statement quoted Aregbesola to have said.

  • Gunmen attack Kogi prison, free 240 inmates

    Gunmen attack Kogi prison, free 240 inmates

    At least 240 inmates have escaped the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) in Kabba, Kogi State, following an attack by yet to be identified gunmen.

    The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) spokesman, Mr Francis Enobore confirmed the incident in a statement on Monday, stating that the attack took place at about midnight on Sunday.

    According to him, the attackers in their numbers arrived at the custodial centre heavily armed and immediately engaged the guards in a fierce gun battle.

    Enobore further disclosed that the Comptroller–General, Haliru Nababa has ordered a recapture procedure to be activated immediately and detailed investigation carried out even as he leads a team to assess the situation.

    The Comptroller-General also appealed to the general public to furnish security operatives with useful intelligence that will assist in recapturing the escapees.

    Kabba MSCC was established in 2008 with a capacity of 200.

    As of the time of the invasion, 294 inmates were in custody out of which 224 were pre-trial detainees and 70 convicted inmates.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the latest jailbreak comes a few months after gunmen attacked the Nigerian Correctional Service and the police headquarters in Imo State, freeing 1,844 inmates, after which the hoodlums set the facilities ablaze.

    The gunmen also razed the Imo State Police Command headquarters and burnt almost all the vehicles parked at the command’s headquarters. No fewer than 50 cars were set ablaze in the process.

    A similar attack was carried out at the correctional centre in Ubiaja, Edo State; however, the jailbreak was foiled by officers at the facility.

    The inmates, after breaking out from their cells, engaged the correctional officers in a fight, leaving some of the security personnel injured.

    It took a combined effort by officers from the Nigerian Army, 4th brigade, and the Edo command of the Nigeria Police Force, to eventually overpower the inmates and return them to their cells.

  • 1,200 inmates still at large after Imo prison attack

    1,200 inmates still at large after Imo prison attack

    The Nigeria Correctional Services has said one month after its facility in Owerri, Imo State was attacked, over 1, 200 inmates that escaped, are still at large.

    Public Relations Officer of the Owerri district, Goodluck Uboegbulam, who disclosed this, yesterday, said about 600 inmates have either voluntarily returned or were rearrested by security operatives.

    He said the NCS was intensifying efforts in ensuring that all fleeing inmates were rearrested.

    “As it stands, over 1, 200 out the 1, 844 escaped inmates from our custody are still at large. However, over 600 have either voluntarily returned or recaptured. But we are hopeful that many more will voluntarily return because they have been returning almost on daily basis. After the attack, we have undertaken several measures, such as going through different media and exploring possible avenues aimed at getting results. In fact, we have gone as far as writing to churches, community and village heads, letting them know the dangers in allowing the fleeing inmates to hide within our communities. And this has yielded, so far, the voluntary return of some of these fleeing inmates.”

  • FG orders shoot on sight for anyone who attempts jailbreak

    FG orders shoot on sight for anyone who attempts jailbreak

    The federal government has ordered the personnel of the Nigeria Correctional Service to shoot on sight any internal and external aggressor on Custodial Centres.

    Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola gave the order at an emergency meeting with NCOs Squadron Commanders, Field Commanders and Heads of Armed Squads.

    This follows the recent wave of attacks on the Custodial Centres across the country.

    He also cautioned the personnel against trafficking which he said is reported as one of the means through which criminals invade the facilities having known that they could smuggle contraband into the facilities, Vanguard reports.

    While he declared the centres as “red zones” which must remain inviolable at all costs, Aregbesola directed the officers to deploy maximum force rather than minimum force against aggressors.

    He said; “Our Custodial Centres must be red zones. It is a quarantine centre for those who by law should not live among free men. When a person is declared unfit to relate with other humans, it is the duty of the authorities to guarantee it.

    “We are with you absolutely to make our Custodial Centres inviolable. Attack on centres is no longer a happenstance. There is a pattern now and we can no longer give any excuse to allow these attacks to succeed.

    I was at the Owerri centre when we were told about the circumstances surrounding that attack and the question someone asked was, where are the casualties?

    “If this meeting must make any meaning at all, you will be held absolutely responsible going forward for any attack on our custodial facilities. I asked representatives of the advanced nations about how it works and they told me a custodial centre is a fortress and a sacred facility that nobody should even have the temerity to attack, not to talk of succeeding at attacking.

    “So the current security challenges are just being used as a cover. A pattern is fast emerging and we must take it as such.

    “Well, we must commend you for your professionalism, diligence and sacrifice in the performance of your duties. We appreciate you but the line must be drawn where you say enough is enough, where nobody can cross, to dare or to attempt to break our will.

    “I am aware of your yeoman’s job in foiling attacks, particularly jailbreaks. I must commend you for your brilliance in Ikoyi, Bauchi, Ubiaja and Kano recently.

    “The custodial facilities are a symbol of the authority of the Nigerian State. They are sacred and inviolable institutions. You will notice that they are usually built around military fortresses, to show how important they are. This is to deter would-be attackers from inside or outside.

    “More importantly, you are armed and positioned to directly guard them and defend their integrity. Your mission is to defend the facilities at all costs. Let me repeat, defend them at all costs.

    “You are empowered by the highest authority in the land to use every means necessary to defend the custodial centres against internal and external aggression.

    “The weapons you carry and the instrument you have are to be lawfully deployed for maximum effect, in protecting the facilities. Anyone or group of persons that decide(s) to attack them should not live to regret it.

    “You must not fail because failure means you have contributed to the insecurity in the land by allowing criminals to invade society. This begins with vigilance. You must be on the watch for any instrument or material that could aid criminals in perpetuating jailbreaks. Again, earlier this month, vigilant officers stopped one of their colleagues from smuggling a mobile phone to an inmate in Bauchi. It will be difficult, if not impossible, for inmates to break from inside without receiving assistance from officers, no matter how little.

    “Never again must a successful attack happen on any of our custodial facilities, not even in our farms. Whoever attempts it must simply regret it. By the time you make it almost a life and death matter when you attempt a custodial facility, that will be the end of such an attack.

    According to Aregbesola, some of the inmates who escaped from the custodial centres have been rearrested for murder.

    “Some of the escaped inmates from Edo have been rearrested for murder, another crime. There was a particular case that immediately he escaped from the centre in Edo, he went straight and killed all those he said facilitated his initial arrest. Luckily he has now been arrested and faces double jeopardy, one for escape from lawful custody and two, for murder,” Aregbesola added.

  • Normalcy returns to Kano prison after inmates riot

    Normalcy returns to Kano prison after inmates riot

    The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) says normalcy has been restored to the Kurmawa Custodial facility in Kano metropolis following violent protest staged by the inmates on Thursday.
    The Public Relations Officer, NCoS Kano State Command, DSC Musbahu Kofar-Nasarawa, confirmed the development to newsmen on Friday in Kano.
    It was gathered that the inmates rioted over alleged poor quality food in the facility, a situation which caused panic among residents of a possible jail break by the inmates.
    Reacting, Kofar-Nasarawa said that normalcy had been restored as the inmates were confined and security beefed up at the facility.
    “There was an attempt by some inmates to cause pandemonium in the prison yard, however, the situation was brought under control by concerted efforts of the warders and security operatives.
    “The inmates are not protesting over alleged poor quality or lack of food at the facility rather they kicked against attempt by warders to retrieve some illicit items in their possession.
    “Normalcy has been restored at the facility,” he said.
    According to him, the command has set up a committee to unravel the cause of the riot as well as examine the influx of illicit substances into the facility.