Indeed, the saying; “nobody knows tomorrow” has so much iota of truth in it.
On Wednesday night, inmates at the Suleja Correctional Facility in Niger State experienced something strange.
It was a cold night and the rain had visited the city of Niger after causing havoc in Lagos State the previous day.
The rain started and in no time, it became a heavy downpour.
The deluge affected various communities in Niger State and the neighbouring Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Wall Of Jericho
Before anyone knew what was happening, the rain weakened the prison’s defences by damaging parts of its perimeter fence.
Lo and behold, the prison’s fence like the wall of Jericho in the holy book, was on the ground, leaving the inmates with the perfect opportunity to escape, and escape they did.
As we speak, several inmates seized the opportunity and escaped from the prison.
According to eyewitnesses, the inmates exploited the chaotic weather conditions to overpower the correctional facility staff.
That was how they were able to escape.
The Escape
Abdullahi Nura, a local resident said the escapees did not only manage to flee in various directions but also engaged in violent acts against volunteers attempting to prevent their escape.
“Some parked vehicles had their screens damaged due to the action of the escaping inmates,” Nura stated, highlighting the turmoil during the incident.
Authorities only managed to recapture three of the inmates in Suleja a few hours after the escape.
Meanwhile, additional fugitives were apprehended on Thursday morning around the Rafinsanyi and Kwankwaso areas along the Suleja-Madalla road.
Kuje Attack
This Suleja prison escape adds to the growing list of jailbreaks in Nigeria.
In case you have forgotten, let’s walk down memory lane, two years ago, a similar, more severe breach took place when suspected terrorists overran Kuje Prison in Abuja.
The attack led to a mass escape during a prolonged assault.
Also Read: From Nigeria’s Kuje Prison To East Congo Jail, Here Are Some Jail Breaks That 2022 Saw
The recurring jailbreaks in Nigeria highlight ongoing challenges within the country’s correctional system.
Till date, there are numerous escapees from various incidents still at large.
This is despite government’s assurances of stringent measures to recapture them.
