TIMELINE: 1,844 in Imo, 1,993 in Edo — how thousands escaped from prisons in 4 years

A nation’s correctional centres are expected to be well-fortified, considering that these facilities house those who have been convicted of offences such as murder, rape, and kidnapping.

However, over the course of four years, media reports on jailbreaks across Nigeria suggest that the security framework of the country’s prison facilities may need to be reviewed, owing to the fact that at least 4,307 inmates have escaped between December 2017 and July 2021.

The most recent attack occurred on July 8 when four inmates of the Jos correctional facility escaped, adding to the growing list of jailbreaks in recent years.

Samuel Aguda, controller-in-charge of the Plateau command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), said the negligence of the personnel on duty made it possible for the inmates to escape.

Aguda said the four inmates are awaiting trial over kidnapping and armed robbery cases.

Prior to the Jos prison break, Nigeria had witnessed inmates escaping from custody in six states of the federation.

Here is a breakdown of jailbreaks since 2017:

DECEMBER 27, 2017

Thirty-six prisoners escaped from Ikot Ekpene prison in Akwa Ibom state in a well-coordinated operation by the inmates.

Ogbajie Ogbajie, spokesman of the Akwa Ibom command of the Nigeria Prison Service, said the inmates first attacked kitchen staff before escaping through the rear entrance of the prison.

During the escape, four inmates were shot dead.

JUNE 3, 2018

Gunmen attacked Minna medium security prison, Niger state, killing an official and a commercial motorcyclist.

It was gathered that the gunmen attacked the prison around 9pm, and were shooting sporadically for over one hour to scare away residents.

The attack resulted in the escape of 210 inmates from the facility.

OCTOBER 28, 2019

A section of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) facility in Koton-Karfe, Kogi state, was overrun by flood following a downpour in the town.

As a result, about 122 inmates fled the prison.

Reacting to the development, Lazarus Ogbee, a lawmaker and chairman, house of representatives committee on reformatory institutions, said the incident is “the first of its kind in the whole world” and embarrassing.

OCTOBER 19, 2020

During the #EndSARS protests, hoodlums broke into two correctional facilities in Benin and Oko, both in Edo state.

Prison authorities disclosed that 1,993 inmates escaped from both facilities.

OCTOBER 22, 2020

Two days after the Edo jailbreaks, the train of violent attacks during the #EndSARS protests touched down in Ondo state as hoodlums broke into the NCoS facility in Okitipupa.

The hoodlums were said to have pulled down the fence of the facility and set prisoners free.

Fifty-eight inmates were released during the attack.

APRIL 5, 2021

Gunmen attacked the NCoS facility in Owerri, Imo state, and released 1,844 inmates.

The Imo state police command headquarters was also attacked.

The police alleged that the invasion was carried out by the Eastern Security Network, an outfit of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). The ESN has, however, denied being responsible for the attack.

PATTERN OF PRISON BREAKS

In all of these prison breaks, prison authorities announced that some of the escaped inmates were recaptured and some willingly returned.

Five of the jailbreaks analysed were caused by violent attacks on the facilities, with security personnel being overpowered.

The Koton-Karfe jailbreak, however, is traced to an unusual circumstance — flood — while, the recent one in Jos was associated with negligence on the part of the personnel on duty.