Nasarawa State Governor, Abdullahi Sule, on Wednesday expressed concern over the high number of inmates awaiting trial at the Keffi Medium Security Correctional Centre.
The governor made the remarks during a visit to the facility in Keffi Local Government Area, a day after 16 inmates reportedly escaped from the centre.
Governor Sule, accompanied by top government officials, was taken around the premises by officers of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS).
The NCoS, through its Service Public Relations Officer (SPRO), Abubakar Umar, confirmed the jailbreak on Tuesday, revealing that seven of the escapees had been recaptured, while a manhunt was underway for the remaining nine.
During his inspection of the facility and interactions with both NCoS personnel and inmates, Governor Sule noted the overcrowded conditions of the prison, describing it as a contributing factor to the jailbreak.
“I came to realise, firstly, that the majority of the inmates here are those awaiting trial at the courts in the FCT. They are not awaiting trial here in our courts in Nasarawa State,” the governor said while speaking with journalists after the inspection.
He added: “One of the reasons why I decided to come was not just to find out about the jailbreak but to understand why it happened. From what we see, there are jail breaks across the country. But for us to experience that, I wanted to know why it happened. Was it because of the inmates’ welfare or the type of building they are being kept in?”
Governor Sule emphasised the state government’s commitment to decongesting the facility by fast-tracking court proceedings in collaboration with the FCT judiciary.
“Through our Chief Judge, we will get across to the Chief Judge in the FCT. I understand that the Attorney General of the Federation would also need to be approached in order to see how we can resolve this,” he stated.
He acknowledged the poor living conditions in the prison, noting that many inmates were sitting on bare floors. As an immediate intervention, he directed the supply of 500 mattresses to the centre and announced a donation of ₦1 million for the inmates’ upkeep.
The governor also urged the inmates to remain law-abiding and well-behaved while their cases are being handled.
While highlighting the need for improved security infrastructure, Sule stressed that internal grievances among inmates must be addressed to prevent future jailbreaks.
“We must continue to work on improved security, but I don’t think that it is the absence of security that caused what happened here. It is some of these grudges and complaints that may have caused what happened,” he noted.
He commended officers of the Nigeria Correctional Service and other security agencies for their swift response and the re-arrest of some escapees, urging residents of Nasarawa to remain vigilant and report any suspicious individuals to the authorities.
