The Plateau State Custodial Center has on Monday confirmed that 9 inmates, one staffer and a gunman were killed after a jailbreak incident at the facility.
The spokesman of the Center, Francis Enobore, who is a Controller of Corrections, made the confirmation in a statement.
Mr Enobore also disclosed that a total of 262 inmates including some of the attackers have escaped in the melee.
He said: “One of the gunmen trapped within the Medium Security Custodial Center, Jos after invading the facility has been identified as one of those killed in the gun duel.
“Sadly, one of the NCoS Armed Squad personnel paid the supreme price in the encounter while 9 inmates also lost their lives.
“Another staff of the Service was shot in the hand and 6 inmates were also injured in the attack.
“Meanwhile, some of the attackers and a total of 262 inmates escaped in the melee before reinforcement could come from sister services.
“However, 10 have so far been recaptured, leaving 252 at large,” he added.
According to him, the Controller-General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa, condoled with the family and friends of the gallant officer who paid the ultimate price in the encounter, promising that the death would not be in vain.
He stressed that all the perpetrators of the incident would be hunted and made to face the full wrath of the law.
He thanked the officers and men of other security agencies for the assistance in bringing the situation under control, assuring members of the public that the safety of inmates, including their care and support, would continue to be a top priority in his administration.
He called for collaboration from patriotic individuals to apprehend the fleeing inmates as well as volunteering credible intelligence that could nip such ugly incidents in the bud.
“Jos Medium Security Custodial Centre as at the time of attack, had 1,060 inmates comprising 560 pre-trial detainees and 500 convicts,” he said.
Similarly, the Police spokesman in the state, ASP Ubah Ogaba, in a statement Monday, said that 9 of the escapists had been rearrested.
“On 28/11/2021 at about 1720hrs, the medium-security custodial centre in Jos came under attack by yet to be identified gunmen where some inmates escaped. Upon receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, CP Bartholomew Onyeka who led reinforcement to the scene, directed that the entire centre be cordoned.
“The CP also directed immediate stop and search where nine (9) escapees have been re-captured by the Police and are in custody while one escapee voluntarily surrendered himself to the Police.
“Based on the prompt response, the situation was brought under control by the superior gunfire of Security Agencies.
“The Police and other Security Agencies are currently on the ground to effectively deprive the hoodlums of the space they desire to perpetrate their evil acts,” he said in a statement.
