There are still 108 prisoners on the run in Nigeria. They were able to escape from Suleja prison, about 50 kilometers from the capital Abuja. Ten other escaped detainees were recaptured.
Wednesday’s heavy rain, which lasted for hours, caused damage to part of the prison building, which dates back to the colonial period (1863-1960). The fence also had to be damaged. 118 prisoners were able to escape, ten of whom were recaptured. It is not yet clear exactly which prisoners are involved, but there are fears that there are dangerous figures among them.
The prison itself calls on people to continue with their daily activities without fear. There is cooperation with security agencies to track down the escaped detainees.
Two years ago, 400 prisoners escaped after a raid on another prison in Abuja. Four detainees, a security guard and several attackers were killed. Islamic fighters claimed responsibility for the attack. Their intention was to free some of their members.
Since 2020, more than 5,000 detainees have been able to escape from prisons in Nigeria. Many facilities suffer from overcrowding and cannot meet basic needs. Many prisoners have never been convicted, but sometimes have to wait in jail for years before their trial.
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