Time Nigeria
Thirty out of 210 inmates that fled Minna medium prison facility as a result of jail break have been recaptured owing to the joint efforts of the country’s security agencies while 180 inmates are still on prowl.
The Minister of Interior, General Abdulrahman Dabazzau who admitted that there were shortage of personnel and security lapses at Minna prison, he added that Federal Government is building 3000 capacity prison in each geopolitical zone and recruit 6000 personnel admitted that there were security lapses at Minna Prison.
Danbazzau stated this after his visit for the spot assessment of the prison facility. According to him, “There are security gaps to be addressed in the prisons such as manpower, decongestion.”
Also speaking, Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani-Bello call for more commitment to duties adding that Niger State Government would work with Federal Government on Prison reforms.
“I will like to appeal to public servants generally to take their jobs seriously. Niger State Government collaborate with the Federal Government to improve infrastructure of prisons across the state.”
In his remarks, the Comptroller General of Prison, Jaafaru Ahmed said investigative panel has been set up to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the jailbreak.
Governor Sani-Bello, Minister of Interior , Gen Absulrahman Dabazzau, Comptroller General of Prison, Jaafaru Ahmed were accompanied by heads of security agencies in the state.
Other includes members of Niger State Executive Council, top government officials from Ministry of Interior and Senior Prison officers from Nigerian Prison Service Headquarters. It was earlier reported that on Sunday, 3rd June, 2018 at about 8pm, there was a jailbreak at Minna Medium Security Prison located at Tunga area of Minna Metropolis perpetuated by armed criminals who attacked the prison and gain access after exchange of fire with prison armed men. Jibrin Baba Ndace Chief Press Secretary.
It would be recalled that jail break incidents are becoming a new security challenges in Nigeria more importantly that it is being affected from outside the prison.
Time Nigeria in a chat with a Managing Director of Security Monitor Nigeria Limited, a security outfit based in Abuja, Mr Olusegun Ayinde said in a telephone chat that it is becoming worrisome that the issue of jail break is taking another dimension in Nigeria.
According to him, ‘Globally, the issue of jail break is not a new thing but what is becoming worrisome now in Nigeria in particular is the way it is being carried out. What we use to hear is the jail break from within, but now that the action is being perpetrated from outside.”
He advised that maximum security should be provided in all prison facilities in Nigeria to avoid the menace of integrating culprit back into the society. He lamented the state of Nigeria security saying that some of the prisons had outlived there usefulness, He specifically made mentioned of Ilorin Prison, he said where the prison is located is no longer good for the global best practices.
He urges government to considered the relocation of some of the prisons that are in metropolis across the country to avoid further jail break.