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By Oscar Okhifo
Nigeria has suffered yet another security breach as 16 inmates broke out of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi, Nasarawa State, in the early hours of Tuesday, marking the country’s third jailbreak this year and reigniting concerns over the safety of its correctional facilities.
According to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), the escape followed a violent disturbance during which inmates attacked warders on duty and breached the facility’s security. Five correctional officers were injured in the process, two of them critically, and are currently receiving treatment at a government hospital.
Spokesman for the Service, Umar Abubakar, confirmed that seven of the escapees have been recaptured and returned to custody, while nine remain at large. A nationwide manhunt is underway in collaboration with other security agencies, with members of the public urged to report suspicious movements.
Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, who visited the facility after the incident, ordered a full-scale investigation into the breach and warned that no staff found complicit would be spared.
“This unfortunate incident will be thoroughly investigated. Anyone found to have aided or abetted the escape will face the full wrath of the law,” he said, assuring that measures are being taken to strengthen security across custodial centres nationwide.
In the month of March 24 , there was a prison break in Koton Karfe, Kogi State: 12 inmates escaped. It was learnt that there was tampering with padlocks; six were recaptured, and one correctional officer was killed in the process.
In the mouth of My, 2025, there was security breach at a correctional facility in Ilesa, Osun State and Seven inmates fled after. Report had it that a torrential rainfall damaged the perimeter fence and that aided the escape of some inmates. Only one was recaptured, six remain at large.
On the 12th day of August , another one at Keffi, Nasarawa State happened which led to the escape of 16 inmates escaped after attacking warders. As earlier revealed, seven recaptured so far, nine still missing.
In the last dispensation, under former President Muhammadu Buhari and then-Minister of Interior Rauf Aregbesola, jailbreaks were alarmingly frequent, sparking nationwide outrage over weak correctional facilities’ security.
Observers insist that President Bola Tinubu and the current Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, must take decisive measures to fortify Correctional facilities across the country.
They argue that those found responsible for these tragic breaches should be prosecuted to send a clear signal that dereliction of duty carries serious consequences.
The frequency of jailbreaks in Nigeria has become too embarrassing, and many Nigerians say they want the ugly trend to stop .