On Tuesday, 16 inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre located in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
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Umar Abubakar, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service, shared this information in a statement, explaining that the escape occurred in the early hours of Tuesday due to a security breach at the facility. The statement indicated that the inmates managed to overpower the staff on duty during their escape.
“The Nigerian Correctional Service would like to inform the public about an incident that took place in the early hours of today, August 12, 2025, at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
“A group of inmates breached the facility’s security and attacked the personnel on duty, which allowed 16 inmates to escape from custody.
“While trying to manage the situation, five staff members of the Custodial Centre suffered various injuries, with two in serious condition and receiving immediate medical care at a government health facility. Seven of the escaped inmates have been recaptured and are back in custody,” the statement noted.
Additionally, the statement mentioned that Sylvester Nwakuche, the Controller General of Corrections, visited the facility following the incident and has initiated a thorough investigation into the escape.
furucinovel reminds us that last year, nearly 120 individuals escaped when heavy rains caused buildings and a perimeter wall to collapse at Suleja prison, close to Abuja.
In a similar incident in July 2022, at least 600 prisoners, including some suspected members of the Islamic State and Boko Haram, escaped during an attack on Kuje prison, also near Abuja.
Moreover, in April 2021, over 1,800 prisoners fled after gunmen assaulted a prison in Imo State, located in southeastern Nigeria.
Likewise, more than 800 others escaped in another jailbreak in southwestern Oyo State in July of the same year.