The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has confirmed the escape of inmates from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Suleja, Niger state.

Daily Trust had reported how the inmates fled during a heavy rainfall, which destroyed the prison’s fence on Wednesday.

In a statement, on Thursday morning, spokesman of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) command of NCoS, Adamu Duza, said a total of 118 inmates escaped.

“A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday, 24 April 2024 has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Suleja, Niger state, as well as surrounding buildings, destroying part of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of a total of 118 inmates of the facility.

“The service has immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms, and in conjunction with sister security agencies, has so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody, while we are in hot pursuit to recapture the rest.

“The service is not unmindful of the fact that many of its facilities were built during the colonial era and that they are old and weak. The Service is making frantic efforts to ensure that all aging facilities give way to modern ones.”

“The Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Francis John, wishes to assure the public that the service is on top of the situation and that they should go about their normal businesses without fear or hindrance,” the statement read.

Sources told Daily Trust that some of the inmates who escaped were re-arrested between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Societal Concern Magazine, a social cultural group on Wednesday embarked on a walk to voice out their displeasure over the killings, and attacks on security agents in the country.

The walk, themed: “Guardians of Honour: Protecting Our Protectors, Preserving Our Unity,” began at under bridge Ikeja and extended to the secretariat of Ikeja Local Government, and the office of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police in Ikeja GRA, and climaxed at the State House of Assembly, Alausa, Ikeja.

CP Adegoke Fayoade addresses participants at the Police Command Headquarters

Speaking during the rally, the convener of the walk and publisher of Society Concerns Magazine, Ambassador Oluwayomi Oluwapelumi David, stated that “we are here to walk against the killings of security personnel in the country and we are saying enough is enough.”

Ambassador David used the opportunity to advise members of the public to stop provoking and frustrating security agent.

According to her, they are here to protect, and serve us. If they have taken up the appointments, we must secure them. If the job is not secure for them, then, we need to ask ourselves why the job is not secure?

“There’s need for all of us to respect the uniform they put on because an attack on any of them is an attack on all of us because they secure us in order to secure the state,” she said.

The convener then expressed disappointment over the constant attacks on security personnel, adding that these are people who secure the lives of others, and wondered why the citizens are attacking them and making their lives short.

“This country needs to move from developing to developed one. How long are we going to continue with this menace,” she said.

Addressing the participants at the Police Command Headquarters, the State Commissioner of Police, Adegoke Fayoade, said, “I want to sincerely thank you on behalf of the Inspector General of Police, Olukayode Egbetokun, for this tremendous support given to the police and other security personnel.”

CP Adegoke appreciated the efforts of the convener and noted that “these men and women are members of the public; they are either our brothers, sisters, fathers or mothers. The only thing that makes us different is the uniform, so, when we remove the uniform, we are civilians like you.

“We thank you so much and appreciate the fact that you sympathise with us for the loss of our men. It’s not something that we are happy about because when a policeman or woman is gone or when he or she is gruesomely killed, many people, including his wife or her husband, children and the extended family, suffer.

“This walk for security personnel, most especially those of us that ensure that members of the public are well protected, is a good thing and I think it would go a long way to change the mindset of people that specialise in attacking or killing security agents for no reason,” he said.

According to him, security men and women are not the enemies of the people, but they are preventing crimes and criminal activities from taking place anywhere and protecting the citizenry.

“I appreciate this walk and I know it would go a long way to secure the policemen and other security agents. I hope this walk changes the mindset of those who attack them,” he said.

Receiving the participants at the Lagos House of Assembly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Hon. Olukayode Steven Ogundipe, representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 1, appreciated the efforts of the convener and the participants.

“You are not doing this walk because of yourself, but you are doing it because you are patriotic Nigerians and you want the best for the nation. You feel that the security agents are not just security men, but parents of some people. It’s not about them alone, but about so many people.

“So, if they are giving up their lives to serve us, we should also be concerned about their safety. That’s why the House of Assembly, under the leadership of the Speaker, Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa, is behind you on this, and we would ensure that all the resources needed to put a stop to these killings are made available to the government and the security agencies,” he said.

Hon. Ogundipe added that the State Assembly is advocating that the government should put all resources together and make efforts to ensure that the security of the people protecting the members of the public is also guaranteed.

The lawmaker further thanked the participants for being peaceful with the protest, and assured them and their leaders that their requests would be prese

nted to the members of the Assembly for consideration.

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According to a report by Daily Post on Wednesday, April, 24, 2024, former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, vehemently denied accusations of being a fugitive and challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to produce evidence of any invitation extended to him. Bello’s media officer, Ohiare Michael, reiterated the governor’s stance, emphasizing his commitment to upholding the rule of law.

Contrary to claims by the EFCC, Bello asserted that he had never been invited for questioning by the anti-corruption agency. He criticized the EFCC’s declaration of him as wanted without prior invitation, calling for transparency and accountability in the process.

The statement by Michael reads partly: “Let it be known to all that Alhaji Yahaya Bello is not afraid of the EFCC, he is not a fugitive running from the law. All he demands is that the rule of law be respected.

“The EFCC stated that they invited Alhaji Yahaya Bello immediately after his tenure ended on the 27th of January 2024. We challenge the EFCC to publish a copy of the invitation delivered to Yahaya Bello.

“They should also tell Nigerians the date the alleged invitation was delivered and who it was delivered to. We are certain that the EFCC will not be able to produce any of the foregoing as to date, they have yet to invite Alhaji Yahaya Bello.”

“Indeed, just about the end of his administration, several online news sites published that the EFCC would arrest the Governor as soon as he handed over power to his successor as they intended to charge him for alleged crimes committed as Governor of Kogi State.”