By Folorunso Alagbede, in Abuja
Twelve inmates have escaped in an early morning jail break on Monday at the Federal Correctional Centre in Kotonkarfe, Kogi State.
This was confirmed by the Kogi State Commissioner for Information, Mr Kingsley Fanwo in a statement in Lokoja.
Fanwo described the jailbreak as “unfortunate” and assured citizens that the government, working with security agencies, would take steps to prevent a recurrence.
According to him, law enforcement agencies have re-arrested one of the escapees.
Fanwo, in the statement, said, “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,” he said.
The State Governor, Usman Ododo, the Commissioner pointed out, has asked security agencies to ensure such security breaches do not happen again.
He added, “We call on the public to report any suspicious individuals in their communities.
“Anyone found harbouring an escaped inmate will be held accountable,” he warned.
“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,” Fanwo stressed.
