Pix: Dr Ahmed Audi, Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps

The Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Ahmed Audi, has directed all state commandants to immediately deploy armed personnel and intelligence officers to custodial centres across the country, with a view to complementing efforts, and prevent any action of jailbreak or nefarious activities of the criminal elements.

The directive is aimed at strengthening security at the facilities, which have been designated as critical national assets, and preventing potential jailbreaks or criminal activities.

According to the NSCDC Spokesperson, Babawale Afolabi, the action is to complement the efforts of the Nigerian Correctional Centre.

“The Commandant General of the On account of this, the NSCDC Commandant General, has directed all the State Commandants of the Corps to deploy arms bearing and intelligence officers of the Corps to the custodial centres in their States.

“This is to collaborate with the Nigerian Correctional Service and complement their efforts and prevent any action of jailbreak or nefarious activities of the criminal elements,” he said.

Over six years, Nigeria has witnessed a series of jailbreaks across various correctional facilities, resulting in the escape of over 4,000 inmates.

Independent investigation from the website of the NCoS, the Ministry of Interior websites has revealed that 6,385 inmates escaped from 11 custodial centres across the country.

Meanwhile, no fewer than 2,032 escapees were rearrested or recaptured by the NCoS officers and security agencies while over 4,285 were still at large.