The Honourable Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro has approved the recommendations of the Controller General of the Nigerian Prisons Service, Dr Peter E Ekpendu, mni for the immediate removal and suspension of the following officers pending the outcome of Investigation on the jail Break at Medium Security Prison, Minna.
a. The Controller of Prisons, Niger state Command-Musa Maiyaki.
b. The officer-in-Charge, Medium Security Prison Minna- ACP MOHAMMED I BENA
c. All other Officers on duty on 6th December 2014 when the jail break happened.
The statement was made available to NewsWireNGR Tuesday by Ope Fatinikun, National Public Relations Officer, Nigerian Prisons Service
Meanwhile, the Controller General of Prisons, Dr Peter E Ekpendu, mni also ordered the immediate transfer of fifty five(55) Officers and Men of the Zonal and state Headquarters Minna to Medium Security Prison Minna and Old Prison Minna to beef up security in the two (2) Prisons.
The Nigerian Prisons Service said it has recaptured one hundred and Eight (108) inmates out of 275 prisoners who escaped from Medium Security Prison in Minna, Niger State on December 6, 2014.
The Controller General of Prisons, Dr Peter E. Ekpendu mni made the disclosure in a statement by the Prisons’ spokesperson, Mr. Ope Fatinikun.
The inmates were recaptured through combined efforts of military, security and intelligence agencies and cooperation of surrounding Communities.
While assuring Nigerians that a search party comprising the Nigerian Army, DSS, Police and Prisons are still conducting investigation and search around the neighbouring states Dr. Ekpendu said the incidence is not a terrorist attack but an attempted jailbreak.
He therefore appealed to communities and neighbouring states of Kwara, Kaduna, Kebbi and FCT to be vigilant and watch out for any suspicious movement around and report such person(s) to the nearest Police stations or Prisons formations.
Meanwhile one hundred and sixty six (166) inmates are still at large. The total number of inmates in the Prisons’ custody as at today is one hundred and fifty seven (157) which includes forty nine inmates that did not escape.
