FG Suspends State Prisons Boss Over Jailbreak

Minister of Interior, Abba Moro

 

Comrade Abba Moro, the Minister of Interior, has approved the suspension of the Controller of Prisons, Niger State Command-Musa Maiyaki, the Officer-in-Charge, Medium Security Prison Minna- ACP Mohammed Ibena and all other officers on duty during the jailbreak in which over 200 prisoners escaped from the prison on 6 December, 2014.

This was revealed in a statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday by Ope Fatinikun, National Public Relations Officer, Nigerian Prisons Service.

According to him, the suspension followed recommendations of the Controller General of the Nigerian 

Prisons Service, Dr Peter E. Ekpendu, for the immediate removal and suspension of officers in charge of pending the outcome of investigation on the jailbreak at Medium Security Prison, Minna.

He added that Ekpendu has also ordered the immediate transfer of 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 Prisons.

Fanitikun added in the statement that the NPS has recaptured 108 inmates out of 275 prisoners who escaped from Medium Security Prison in Minna, Niger State on December 6, 2014.

According to him, the inmates were recaptured through combined efforts of military, security and intelligence agencies and cooperation of surrounding communities.

He also assured Nigerians that  search parties comprising the Nigerian Army, DSS, Police and Prisons are still conducting investigation and search around the neighbouring states .

Dr. Ekpendu said the incident is not a terrorist attack but an attempted jailbreak.

The Prison Service 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 persons to the nearest police stations or prisons formations.

The NPS said 166 inmates are still at large, while the total number of inmates in the prisons as at today is 157, which includes 49 inmates that did not escape.