The Controller General of Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), Mr. Ja’afaru Ahmed, on Saturday confirmed that only two prison inmates at the Kuje Medium Prison escaped from their cell during a minor jail break, which occurred between 7pm and 8pm on Friday night.
Ahmed also debunked initial reports that a brother of Henry Okah, jailed leader of the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), Charles Okah, escaped during the jailbreak, adding that the story was misleading.
A release signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Prisons Service, Mr. Francis Enobore, stated that “contrary to speculations that there was a jail break in Kuje Medium Security Prison and that Charles Okah had escaped from lawful custody, I wish to state that Charles Okah is still in the prison safe and sound.
However, two inmates were reported to have escaped from the prison at about 1930hrs though not through jailbreak. The inmates in question were awaiting trial for culpable homicide and have no relationship with Charles Okah in what ever manner as it’s being speculated. Efforts are on in collaboration with sister security agencies and relevant bodies to recapture the fleeing prisoners.
The Controller General of Prisons, apart from immediately dispatching a team to the Prison to carry out preliminary investigation, was also personally on ground to have a first hand information about the incident. He directed the team to do a thorough job and expeditiously too in order to establish the circumstances surrounding the escape noting that any staff found culpable would be made to face the full wrath of the law”, the statement added.
