By Idris Ibrahim
The federal government says it is preparing to publish names and photos of fleeing Owerri prison inmates in a frantic effort to recapture them, Peoples Gazette learnt.
“As I speak with you, they (information about fleeing inmates) are being processed. Our IT experts are currently working on it. We have their complete pictures and bios. We will publish their pictures online and other strategic places where the general public can see,” said Francis Enobore, spokesman for the Nigerian Correctional Centre (NCoS), in response to The Gazette’s inquiry.
On Monday, the correctional facility and police investigations department in Owerri were set alight by gunmen in an overnight attack.
Multimedia and witnesses account on social media said the attackers struck the prison and police department shortly after midnight, freeing almost 2,000 inmates. Heavy gunfire also rang through the area as hundreds of inmates fled.
Mr Enobore, on Wednesday, told The Gazette that no bounty had been placed on the fleeing inmates.
“I cannot say, for now, the inmates have committed an offence already. But we will wait and allow the inmates to utilise the opportunity given to them by the honourable minister,” the NCoS spokesman explained.
He added some of the inmates that returned were brought back by their relatives.
“As we speak, 60 inmates who returned on their own voluntarily are in our custody. Some of them were brought back by their parents, custodians. The next measure would be determined after the expiration given by the honourable minister,” Mr Enobore stated.
On Tuesday, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo had assured Nigerians that the fleeing inmates would be ‘discovered’ and prosecuted.
Many believe this is a usual soundbite from the government as the authorities have not rearrested many of the escaped inmates of previous jailbreaks, especially the Benin incident.
The government has also continued to put millions of lives in danger as it fails to issue danger alerts to the public along with mugshots of escaped inmates.
Mr Osinbajo gave the assurance while addressing journalists at the Owerri Custodial Centre, Imo, after inspecting the facility to ascertain the extent of damage by hoodlums who attacked the centre on Monday.
Mr Osinbajo, who condemned the attacks on the prison and police headquarters in Owerri, added that the federal government would rejig its security architecture.
He further assured that all those responsible for the attacks would be uncovered and made to face the full wrath of the law.
He asserted that the attacks were against the Nigerians and the government, adding that it will not be condoned.
“Perpetrators of this act will definitely be brought to book. They must not go free. They are cowards and will be discovered and duly prosecuted,” said Mr Osinbajo.
This article originally appeared in People’s Gazette
