Prisons Service confirms escape of two inmates, says Okah NOT involved

The Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) has officially clarified rumoured jailbreak and escape of suspected mastermind of the 2010 Independence Day bombings,

In a statement issued on Saturday, June 25, by spokesman of the service, Francis Enobore, he confirmed that two inmates being held for culpable homicide had escaped, but Okah was not one of them, and their escape was not via a jailbreak.

“Contrary to speculations that there was a jailbreak in Kuje Medium Security Prison and that Charles Okah had escaped from lawful custody, I wish to state that Charles Okah is still in the prison safe and sound,” he said.

“However, two inmates were reported to have escaped from the prison at about 1930hrs, though not through jailbreak. The inmates in question were awaiting trial for culpable homicide and have no relationship with Charles Okah in what ever manner as it’s being speculated. Efforts are on in collaboration with sister security agencies and relevant bodies to recapture the fleeing prisoners.

“The Controller General of Prisons, apart from immediately dispatching a team to the Prison to carry out preliminary investigation, was also personally on ground to have a first hand information about the incident. He directed the team to do a thorough job and expeditiously too in order to establish the circumstances surrounding the escape noting that any staff found culpable would be made to face the full wrath of the law,” the statement said.

READ: Kuje inmates rejoice over Badeh's stay in prison

It had been reported that Okah, alongside another inmate scaled the walls of Kuje prison on Friday night and were being hunted by security operatives.