The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Jail break

  • Jail break: DSS recaptures another escapee

    • Investigation over prison break concluded, says authority

    Men of the Department of State Services, (DSS) have rearrested another escapee from the Ikot Ekpene Prison in Akwa-Ibom State.

    He was handed over to the prison authority on December 31.

    The prisoners on December 27, last year attacked the prison’s kitchen staff that was on duty seizing an axe from a fellow inmate attached to the kitchen and inflicted a deep cut on the inmates’ head in the process and immediately made for the rear entrance to the prison.

    They broke the door with the axe and engaged the staff that chased after them in battle.

    At the end of the scuffle, four of them that sustained gun shots lost their lives while 36 were said to have escaped, 15 of them have now been recaptured.

    Controller Prisons, Akwa-Ibom State Command, Alex Oditah who told our correspondent through a telephone conversation said men of the Department of State Services, (DSS) and other security agencies are still combing the state to fish out the remaining escapees.

    Oditah was optimistic that the search parties that have been activated to effect their recapture of the remaining inmates are not resting on their oars.

    He also disclosed that the investigation team has concluded its assignment and they have submitted the panel report to the Controller General, (CG) of the Nigeria Prisons Service, (NPS), Ja’faru Ahmed.

    He said, “The DSS has recaptured another one on the 30 of December and he has been handed over to us. The people who came for the investigation have concluded it and they are on their way back to Abuja. They have submitted the report to the Comptroller General and he will study it and then he will make public the panel report.”

    Meanwhile the CG, NPS has visited the Ikot Ekpene Prison in Akwa-Ibom State to see the level of damage and how to further curb future occurrence.

    The NPS spokesman, Francis Enobore who disclosed this to our correspondent also said the Prison boss paid an official visit to the governor seeking cooperation to forestall future jailbreak in the state.

  • DSS, police after fleeing prison inmates

    DSS, police after fleeing prison inmates

    … 14 recaptured out of 36

    … Prison boss inaugurates four-man committee to investigated

     

    Following a Prison break at Ikot Ekpene Prison in Akwa-Ibom State on Wednesday where four inmates were killed and 36 were said to have escaped, 14 of them have been recaptured.

    Controller Prisons, Akwa-Ibom State Command, Alex Oditah who disclosed the development to our correspondent through a telephone conversation said men of the Department of State Services, ( DSS ), police, prisons armed and other security agencies are combing the state to fish out the remaining escapees.

    The prisoners on Wednesday attacked the prison’s kitchen staff that was on duty seizing an axe from fellow inmate attached to the kitchen and inflicted a deep cut on the inmates’ head in the process and immediately made for the rear entrance to the prison.

    They broke the door with the axe and engaged the staff that chased after them in battle.

    At the end of the scuffle, 4 of them that sustained gun shots lost their lives while 7 were recaptured.

    Oditah was optimistic that the search parties that have been activated to effect their recapture of the remaining inmates are not resting on their oars.

    Meanwhile, the Controller of Prisons Akwa Ibom State Command, Alex Oditah told The Nation that the Controller General of the Nigeria Prison Service (NIS), Ja’faru Muhammed has constituted a four –man investigation committee to look into the circumstance surrounding the unfortunate incident.

    His words: “14 were recaptured yesterday. The Controller General has set up a four-man committee to carry out a comprehensive investigation as to the cause of the jail break. As soon as the investigation is completed you will get to know. Our men and other security operatives are still all over the place combing then state.”

    A highly placed source in the Ministry of Interior told The Nation that heads may role over the jail break which according to the source is embarrassing.

    The source said: “This is a sad development. How would the authority explain this? Is it that there is no tight security? I am sure more people will dance to the music where proper investigation is concluded. Government will not let this issue go without adequate punishment. The prison boss has been ordered fro above to carry out a proper investigation and aside that another investigation is ongoing that is not known to the prison authority. The Minister of Interior is concerned about this and would not allow this act to continue.”

    Meanwhile, findings revealed that security has been tightened in prison formations across the country following the incident.

    A visit to Kuje Prison by our correspondent showed that more military men have been deployed to the facility with strict search.

  • Fear grips residents over alleged jail break plot in Anambra

    DEAR has gripped residents of Awka, the capital city of Anambra State, following an alleged plot by yet to be identified people to organise a jail break in Awka prisons. The Nation gathered yesterday that the alleged jail break plot was to facilitate the escape of some influential inmates of the prison. Already, residents of the area are said to be making arrangements to move their family members out of the area, especially those close to the prisons. Our correspondent also gathered that the jail break plot was not unconnected with the presence of some influential persons who are presently being detained in the said prison.

    According to sources, among the prominent people in the prison are Chief Emma Nwude and some of his kinsmen from Abagana, who are said to be facing murder charge, following their matter with Ukpo community. The Awka prison, which had a capacity for about 300 inmates, was said to be presently housing over 1000 inmates. A fight over a land matter between Abagana in Njikoka Local Government Area and Ukpor in Dunukofia Local Government Area, allegedly claimed the life of one man, while several police vehicles were burnt and buildings destroyed by some hoodlums. During the period, the police command in Anambra declared Nwude wanted, while about 23 persons were arrested.

    Confirming the news of the jail break plot, the Comptroller of Prisons, Anambra State, Mr. Ubaike Anthony, said the prison in Awka has been going through some form of restiveness for the past two weeks. According to him, “Yes, I have heard that and we have been having restiveness in Awka prison for two weeks now, but we have been countering it. “We have been on alert, we are countering the restiveness and we are on top of the matter,” he prison boss said. Another source who pleaded anonymity, said the information had been made known to the government at Abuja. He said, “We heard the plan to cause a jail break is to get some big men in the prison, who are currently being prosecuted for murder escape judgment.”

  • Umahi declares state of emergency on Abakaliki prisons

    Umahi declares state of emergency on Abakaliki prisons

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has declared a state of emergency on Abakaliki Prisons.

    He made the declaration on Thursday evening when he visited the prisons after a botched jailbreak by the inmates .

    Umahi had just returned from Port Harcourt, Rivers State where he attended the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) national convention when he decided to visit the prisons.

    The governor said, “Early in the morning (Thursday), I was told of attempted jailbreak by inmates of Abakaliki Prisons”.

    The Commissioner of Police (Peace Ibekwe-Abdallah) reported the incident to me and did promise that they (police) were re-inforcing. She told me she had contacted all the security chiefs in the state. They successfully prevented the inmates from escaping.

    “Luckily, I am told that the prisoners are not complaining of any maltreatment and malnutrition. I was told that those who attempted the escape are those awaiting trial. I was told that there are so many of them awaiting trial. This is not good for us.”

    Umahi directed the state Director of Prisons, Adaobi Oputa, to compile such cases and send to him to enable him put head together with the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Aloy Nwankwo, to fast-track justice.

    He decried the level of infrastructure decay in the Abakiliki Prisons, saying such was not good for the inmates. Noting that the structures were built in the 1960s, he promised to partner the prisons authorities to modernise the facility.

    “Ebonyi State Government could suspend one or two things and would want to at least de-roof some of the buildings and re-roof them,” he promised.

    The governor also said his administration would provide sporting facilities in the prisons in order to keep inmates engaged.

    Umahi  added,“Recreational and sporting facilities will be provided. I believe such things will engage those in the prisons and keep them away of thinking of how to escape.

    “When they are engaged, they will not have time to think about crimes. What we have here cannot reform anyone. It will rather harden them. We have to reform them and reintegrate the good ones into our society.”

  • Police foil another jail break attempt

    Police foil another jail break attempt

    • As Abakaliki prison inmates riot

    The Police in Ebonyi state this morning foiled an attempted jailbreak as Abakaliki prison inmates staged a riot inside the prison.

    As at press time, Police have cordoned off all roads leading to the Abakaliki prisons.

    Gunshots could be heard intermittently as Police try to recover a firearm allegedlly taken from one of the prison officers.

    The Nation gathered that the inmates were protesting poor treatment especially inadequate feeding.

    Unconfirmed reports said that some loss of lives have been recorded in the incident.

    Another source said some of the inmates capitalised on the riot to stage a jailbreak and had already succeeded in creating an opening on the wall before anti-riot policemen arrived and heavily tear gassed them into submission.

    The prison is located beside the police headquarters leading to prompt intervention from the police.

    Already the Commander of Military cantonment and the commissioner of Police have visited the area and are directing the operations to restore sanity to the prison.

    The Police spokesman George Okafor when contacted said the command was still working hard to resolve the crisis.

    He, however, refused to confirm if anybody is dead or not.

    “There was an attempted jailbreak and the prisons called in the police. We cordoned off the area and restored nomalcy to the area”

    “We will brief you later on the issue once everything have been sorted out”.

  • Nsukka jail break: We’ve re-arrested six escaped prisoners – Controller

    Enugu State Controller of Nigeria Prisons Service, Mr Isaiah Amariri, said on Thursday that six of the inmates that escaped from Nsukka Prisons on Tuesday night, have been re-arrested.

    Amariri, who gave the figure to newsmen in Nsukka, however declined to give the exact number of inmates that escaped from the prison.

    He said the prison service was liaising with security agents and community groups to apprehend the remaining escaped prisoners.

    “There was a jail break in Nsukka prisons on Tuesday night between 12pm and 3am, in which many inmates escaped, though six of them have been re-arrested.

    “I cannot give the exact figure for now as investigations are still on.

    “ We will send our findings to the Controller General of Prisons who will make public the exact number and cause of Nsukka prisons jail break.

    “The service is liaising with security agents and community vigilante groups to know the hideout of those still on the run in order to re-arrest them,” he said.

    He assured that any official indicted the course of the investigation would be punished.

    “After investigations on the jail break, any person in the service found to have been involved or aided the Tuesday jail break will be arrested and prosecuted no matter his or her position.

    “Security has been beefed up in and around Nsukka prisons with serious surveillance on the prisons facilities, inmates and staff.

    “The prisons authorities are on top of the situation and will put measures in place to avoid a repeat of what happened on Tuesday night in Nsukka, “he said.

    The controller solicited the help of the general public who might have information on the whereabouts of the fleeing inmates, to report to relevant security agencies.

    “We solicit for help from the general public who may have information about the fleeing inmates to feel free and call prisons authorities or security agents to enable them re-arrest the escapees.

    “We promise that such information will be given the confidentiality it deserves and source identity will be fully protected, “he said.

    On the condition of the Nsukka prisons, Amariri said it was established a hundred years ago with the original capacity of 168 inmates, but currently harbours 264 prisoners.

  • 13 INMATES ESCAPE IN KOGI JAILBREAK

    13 INMATES ESCAPE IN KOGI JAILBREAK

    Not less than 13 inmates yesterday escaped from the Koton-Karfe Prison in Kogi State.

    This incident came barely two years after suspected insurgents attacked the facility and released inmates.

    It was learnt the inmates breached the perimeter fence and escaped into the nearby bush.

    A reliable source hinted that the incident occurred around 7am at the federal facility.

    A source, who sought anonymity, said: “There were security lapses somewhere and the inmates seized the opportunity to escape after pulling down the wall.”

    The new prison located along the Opareke Road was inaugurated by immediate Minister of Interior, Abah Moro.

    Unconfirmed report has it that the latest jail break might not be unconnected with the arrival of four suspected interstate kidnappers and armed robbers at the facility.

  • Jail break: Kuje prison chief removed

    Jail break: Kuje prison chief removed

    Details of the probe report of last Friday’s jail break will be ready by middle of next week, Nigeria Prison Service, (NPS) spokesman Francis Enobore, said yesterday.

    Maxwell Ajukwu and Solomon Amodu who are standing trial for murder last Friday escaped from Kuje Prison. It was learnt that they made their way out  through the fence.

    A highly-placed source told our correspondent that it is an escape that might have been carried out in collaboration with an insider.

    It was learnt yesterday that the Controller General of NPS, Ahmed Jafa’aru has ordered the redeployment of the officer in-charge of Kuje Medium Prison, Musa Tanko to the headquarters, to face the probe panel.

    It was gathered that he would report at the NPS headquarters until the conclusion of the probe.

     A Deputy Controller of Prison, Akilu Abdulahi, is now the Kuje Medium Prison officer in-charge.

    Abdulahi was the Officer in-Charge of Haeejia Prison in Jigawa State before his redeployment.

    Enobore said last night, “The investigation report will be presented to the Minster of Interior, before it will be made public. Let us keep our fingers crossed.

    “Something of that magnitude will be forwarded first to the minister. You heard him saying that the investigation is ongoing and as soon as it is concluded, it will be presented to him.

    “The Controller of Prison, Ahmed Jafa’aru is eager to get the report on his desk. By Wednesday you will get the details of who was involved.  Transfer of officers is a normal routine.

  • Jail break in Minna, 270 Inmates freed

    A gang of armed men on Saturday stormed Minna Medium Prison yard, broke into the cells and set 270 inmates free.

    The gang stormed the facility at about 4:30pm over powered the Prison officials, broke into the record room, armoury room and carted away some weapon and bullet proof vests.

  • Jail break: Govt bans telephone usage, indecent dressing

    •Gives 30-day ultimatum to recover phones 

    THE federal Government has banned the use of telephones in prisons. It has also barred indecent dressing.

    It said henceforth, no inmate or official would be allowed access to telephones.

    The Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, broke the news at the weekend in Abuja at a meeting with the senior officers of the Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS).

    His words: “I have visited some prisons. Nobody, no matter how highly placed, will be allowed to enter the prison with his phone, not even the minister of Interior.

    “You have one month to recover the phones in inmates’ possession.”