By Muhammad Mamman
16 inmates broke out of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi, Nasarawa State, on Tuesday, the latest in Nigeria’s spiraling jailbreak crisis. The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed that inmates violently breached security, injuring five guards—two critically. Seven escapees have been recaptured, but the hunt for the rest continues.
This incident follows a disturbing pattern: over 5,200 inmates have fled Nigerian prisons in the past year alone, including 262 from Jos in November and 118 from Suleja in April after heavy rains collapsed aging prison walls. The 2022 Kuje prison attack, where 879 detainees—including Boko Haram militants—escaped, exposed glaring weaknesses like missing CCTV and low fences. Despite government promises and billions allocated for upgrades (₦38.03 billion proposed for 2025), overcrowded, dilapidated facilities and ignored warnings keep fueling these breaches.
Experts warn that Nigeria’s prisons, with 70% of inmates awaiting trial, are “ticking time bombs.” The Institute for Security Studies flagged “deep gaps” in surveillance and intelligence, risking further extremist attacks. As public trust erodes, questions loom: where is the accountability for Nigeria’s failing correctional system?
