Jos correctional centre attack: NCoS conducts headcount to ascertain number of escaped inmates

Jos, Nov. 29, 2021

The Plateau Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) says it is conducting a headcount to ascertain the number of inmates that have escaped from the Jos Correctional centre, following an attack on the facility by gunmen on Sunday.

ASC Geofrey Longdiem, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Jos.

NAN recalls that gunmen invaded the prison yard on Sunday evening but were vehemently resisted by the armed personnel of combined security agencies in the state.

Some of the inmates, however, escaped from the facility during the attack.

The Police Command in the state has arrested eight of the escaped inmates and promised to arrest all others who are still at large.

Longdiem said that the headcount would enable the NCoS to have an accurate number of inmates that had escaped from the facility.

“We are currently doing a headcount of the inmates. This exercise will enable us know how many inmates have escaped,” he said.

NAN reports that there is heavy presence of armed security personnel around correctional center.

Residents of the city are, however, going about their normal businesses, except that those who reside around the facility are still apprehensive about the situation.

 Meanwhile, Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau has commended the security operatives for their response to the attack on the Jos Medium Security Custodial Centre by armed men on Sunday.

The Director of Press and Public Affairs to the governor, Dr. Makut Macham, said this in a statement in Jos on Monday.

Lalong, while condemning the unfortunate incident, praised the gallantry of officers and men of the Jos Custodial Centre who thwarted the plans of the criminals.

He also praised the quick reaction of other security agencies including the Police, Operation Safe Haven, Department of State Serviced, Nigeria Security And Civil Defence Corps and Operation Rainbow that responded to the situation.

The governor described the event as one too many in the nation’s correctional system.

He also said that it was high time a wholistic approach was applied to bringing such attacks and jail breaks to an end.

He said this would help to guarantee the safety of inmates, correctional officers and the larger society from criminals who chose to attack the very essence of Nigeria’s legal system by disrupting law and order.

While directing an immediate boosting of security measures around all custodial facilities in the state, Lalong assured the public that the state government would work with the federal government to ensure that all correctional facilities in the state were protected.

While awaiting full report of the incident, Lalong urged citizens to remain calm and go about their legitimate duties with utmost vigilance and report any suspicious activity to security agencies.