16 inmates escape in Keffi prison break, 5 officers injured

Sixteen inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi, Nasarawa State, in the early hours of Tuesday in what authorities have described as a coordinated prison break.

The incident left five correctional officers injured, two of whom are in critical condition and receiving treatment at a government hospital.

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed the jailbreak in a statement, disclosing that seven of the escapees have so far been recaptured.

A manhunt has been launched for the remaining nine fugitives, with security agencies mounting a joint operation to track them down.

Spokesperson of the NCoS, Abubakar Umar, said the escape was being treated as a serious security breach.

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“We have intensified security operations in and around Keffi, while also working with other agencies nationwide to apprehend the remaining escapees,” he said.

Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, visited the Keffi facility for an on-the-spot assessment shortly after the incident.

He ordered a full-scale investigation into the jailbreak and warned that any correctional staff found complicit would face severe sanctions.

“This is a grave situation, and we are treating it with the utmost urgency. The safety of Nigerians is our priority,” Nwakuche said, assuring that the NCoS was collaborating with the police, military, and other security agencies to close in on the fugitives.

Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant and promptly report any suspicious persons or movements to the nearest security post.