In the early hours of Tuesday, sixteen inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi, Nasarawa State, following a significant security breach, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) confirmed.
According to Umar Abubakar, the NCoS spokesperson, the inmates overpowered staff on duty, compromising the facility’s security and facilitating their escape. “On August 12, 2025, early this morning, some inmates forcefully breached the security perimeter at the Keffi Custodial Centre, attacking personnel on duty and enabling sixteen inmates to escape custody,” the official statement reads.
During efforts to regain control, five staff members were injured, two of whom sustained serious wounds and are currently receiving urgent medical care at a government hospital. Seven of the escaped inmates have since been recaptured, while authorities continue the search for the remaining nine.
Following the incident, the Controller-General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, promptly visited the facility and has ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the jailbreak.
He warned that any staff found to be complicit will face severe disciplinary measures. “No staff member will be spared if found culpable,” Nwakuche emphasized.
The Correctional Service is actively collaborating with sister security agencies to apprehend the fugitives. The public has been urged to stay calm but vigilant and to report any suspicious activity or sightings to the nearest security formation immediately.
This latest breakout highlights a growing challenge with prison security in Nigeria. In recent years, several mass escapes have occurred, including nearly 120 inmates fleeing Suleja prison last year after heavy rains caused structural damage.
In July 2022, around 600 prisoners, some suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State members, escaped from Kuje prison during an armed assault.
In April 2021, over 1,800 inmates broke free following an attack on a prison in Imo State, and another 800-plus escaped from an Oyo State facility in July of the same year.
The Nigerian Correctional Service has reiterated its commitment to tightening security and preventing future incidents to protect public safety and restore confidence in the nation’s custodial institutions.
