Jail Break: 12 Inmates Escape From Kogi Custodial Centre – State Govt

The Kogi State Government on Monday, March 24, 2025, said that 12 inmates escaped in a jailbreak in the early hours of the day.

This was contained in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, who commended the swift response of security agencies to the jailbreak at the Federal Correctional Center in Kotonkarfe from where the 12 inmates escaped.

Fanwo described the escape as ‘unfortunate,’ but assured that the State government was taking decisive steps to prevent a recurrence.

He further said; “The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns.

“This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system,” the Kogi State government said.

The statement also said that Governor Ahmed Ododo has directed the State Security Adviser to collaborate with the Federal Correctional Center and other security agencies to ensure such security breaches do not happen again.

It further said that the state government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting federal security agencies through logistics and other necessary resources to enhance their operational effectiveness.

The government assured residents that the situation is under control, thus no cause for panic just as it encouraged citizens to go about their daily activities, knowing that the security of lives and property remains its top priority.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), has also announced that two out of the 12 inmates that escaped from its Medium Security Custodial Centre in Koton Karfe, Kogi State in the early hours of Monday, March 24, 2025, have been recaptured.

Mr Abubakar Umar, the Public Relations Officer (SPRO) of tjhe NCoS, stated this during a chat with journalists in Abuja, adding that efforts were in top gear to recapture the remaining 10 inmates that escaped.

Umar said that a comprehensive investigation had been launched to unravel the circumstances surrounding the jail break.

According to Umar; “We are still investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident especially to determine how the inmates managed to break out without causing structural damage.

“Unfortunately, one of our officers lost his life during the incident. We are working closely with the Nigeria police and other security agencies to ensure that the escaped inmates are rearrested and taken back to custody”.