Authorities in Kogi State have launched a manhunt after at least 12 inmates escaped from the Federal Correctional Centre in Koton-Karfe. The jailbreak, which reportedly occurred under the cover of darkness, has raised fresh concerns about prison security in Nigeria.
According to eyewitnesses, gunmen stormed the facility in the early hours of the morning, overpowering security personnel and breaking open the cells. Some reports suggest that the escapees may have had internal assistance, as similar incidents have occurred in the same prison before.
This is not the first time the Koton-Karfe correctional center has experienced a prison break. In 2014, over 140 inmates escaped from the same facility, while another breakout occurred in 2016. The latest incident has prompted the Nigerian Correctional Service to conduct an urgent review of security protocols across the country's prisons.
As the search for the escaped inmates continues, residents of Koton-Karfe have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to security agencies.