In response to the escape of 119 inmates from the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre in Niger State on April 24, 2024, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has taken decisive steps to expedite their recapture. Prompted by the breach of the facility’s perimeter fence during heavy rainfall, which facilitated the escape, the NCoS has released a detailed database containing information on the fugitives. This database aims to aid law enforcement agencies and the public in identifying and locating the escaped inmates.
“Following the unfortunate incident at the Suleja Custodial Centre, we are committed to ensuring the swift recapture of all escapees,” stated Abubakar Umar, spokesperson for the NCoS, during a joint press briefing with security and defense agencies in Abuja.
Initially, ten inmates were re-apprehended on April 25, with an additional three captured later the same day. As of June 6, 2024, the NCoS reported that a total of 23 escapees had been successfully recaptured. Umar reiterated the service’s commitment, saying, “I want to put on record that we have been able to recapture 23 escapees so far.”
He also addressed plans to aid in identifying the remaining fugitives: “We are working hard to release the pictures of the fleeing inmates to facilitate their identification and capture.”
Despite these efforts, as of Saturday afternoon, June 15, 2024, the NCoS had only published detailed information about 18 out of the 96 remaining fleeing inmates on their website. The published names include Ogbonna Kingsley, Auwal Mohammed, Mustapha Ibrahim, Suleiman Sani, Raphael Kingsley, Abdullahi Babangida, Idris Bashir, Umar Mustapha, Ayuba Obidience, Lamido Gambo, Garba Fidelis, Mohammed Jibrin, Sylvester Allison, Albert Israel, Edoga Okwudili, Olaiya Stephen, Audo Usman, and Ibrahim Aminu.
