How 25 escaped in Enugu jailbreak

Security agencies and men of the Nigeria Prisons Service have launched a manhunt for 25 inmates who escaped from Nsukka Prison in Enugu State.

The jailbreak reportedly occurred on Tuesday night.

The number of inmates that escaped in the incident had not been determined as of the time of filing this report but our correspondent learnt from sources that about 25 prisoners escaped.

It was also gathered that about six of the fleeing prisoners were immediately rearrested.

The prisoners were able to escape by scaling the perimeter walls of the prison, after breaking their cells.

Our correspondent gathered that the jailbreak came to light on Wednesday morning, when prison officials discovered the broken cells.

The fleeing inmates that were immediately arrested were apprehended inside Nsukka town while still wearing their prison uniforms, our correspondent learnt.

The prison officials had yet to disclose the actual number of inmates that were involved in the jailbreak.

Also, the identities of the concerned inmates had not been disclosed.

However, our correspondent gathered that security agencies were collaborating with the Nigeria Prisons Service to hunt the fleeing inmates.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Enugu State Police Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu, informed our correspondent that the police were collaborating with other security agencies to re-arrest the fleeing prisoners.

“There was a jailbreak. It was reported to us and our men are currently working with other security agencies to re-arrest the prisoners.  They will not go free; they will surely be re-arrested,” Amaraizu said.

Amaraizu gave the number of escaped inmates at about 25.

The Controller, Prisons, Enugu State, Mr. Isaiah Amariri, who moved down to Nsukka from his office in Enugu after the incident, was in a meeting with the Controller of Nsukka Prisons, Mr. Lawrence Okonkwo, and other officials of the prison, as of the time of filing this report.

A source in the prison said Amariri was being briefed by the Nsukka Prison officials, after which he would make an official pronouncement on the jailbreak.