Security agencies including operatives of the Nigerian Police and the Nigerian Securities and Civil Defence Corps have launched a massive hunt for fleeing inmates of Owerri Custodial Centre, Imo State, who escaped after the facility was attacked by gunmen on Monday morning.
Six escaped inmates have returned to the facility while 35 others did not escape during the attack.
The attackers, who stormed the facility at about 02.15am, gained entrance into the yard by using explosives on the administrative block.
They were said to have arrived the centre in their large numbers in several Hilux pick-up vans and Sienna buses armed with sophisticated weapons and immediately engaged the security personnel on duty in a fierce gun battle.
They eventually detonated the explosives to gain entrance.
The spokesman, NCoS, Francis Enobore, disclosed in a statement that the acting Controller-General of Corrections, John Mrabure, has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident and in collaboration with other security organizations, commenced a search and recover operations to recapture the fleeing inmates.
The statement titled, ‘Owerri custodial centre attacked by unknown gunmen,’ explained that six inmates have so far voluntarily returned to the facility while 35 inmates refused to escape from custody during the attack.
“While appealing to the good citizens of Imo State and indeed Nigerians to volunteer useful intelligence that will facilitate the recovery effort, the acting Controller-General wishes to assure that the security of custodial centres in the country remains sacrosanct.
“He equally directed all officers attached to custodial facilities to remain vigilant at this trying moment in our history,” the statement noted.
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