Skip to main content

Prison break: Kogi governor insists on FG investigation

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State

Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has asked the Federal Government to set up a Commission of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding the jailbreak incident at Koton Karfe Prison Yard in the state.

The governor, who expressed shock over the incessant incident at the prison yard, said this particular attack in the early hours of Saturday, 30 July 30, 2016, seemed to be a conspiracy between insiders and criminals who came to free the inmates.

No fewer than 13 inmates were said to have escaped from the federal prison, even as prison officials disappeared when the governor visited the scene. This brings to three times the Koton Karfe Federal Prisons has witnessed jailbreaks in recent time. The first was 2013, the second one was 2014 and this one.

According to information offered by some junior officers, who begged not to be mentioned, the inmates made some remarkable marks on the inside walls, which they scaled to freedom with the help of blankets.

An officer of the prison, simply called ACP Koso, refused to volunteer any information about what happened.

The visibly angry Governor Bello, who visited the prison with the Kogi State Commissioner of Police, Director of State Secret Service and top security officials of the state, was not allowed into the prison yard.

The governor, who had spent substantial resources on security in the state, vowed to use all means available at his disposal to unearth the mystery behind the jailbreak, more so that the incident happened at 3am while security was only beefed up around the prison at 5.30 am.

It would be recalled that some suspected kidnappers in army uniform were sent to Koton Karfe Federal Prison on Friday to be brought to court by September 1, 2016. It is still unclear if the escapees include this particular set of suspects.

Bello called on the Federal Government to investigate the matter and punish those officials suspected to be aiding criminals to escape from the prisons.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Houthis Claim Attack on Central Israel in Response to Gaza ‘Massacres’

The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has taken a concerning regional turn as the Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for an attack on central Israel. The group announced this as part of their escalating response to what they describe as "massacres" in Gaza amid the Israeli military’s operations in the strip. Details of the Attack The Houthis, a Shiite militant group with ties to Iran, declared that they launched missile and drone strikes targeting Israel. While the exact impact of these attacks remains unclear, reports suggest that Israel’s defense systems intercepted several threats over its airspace. This marks a significant escalation as the Houthis widen their involvement in the conflict beyond their typical operations within Yemen and neighboring Saudi Arabia. The Houthis’ Justification In their statement, the Houthis framed the attack as retaliation for Israel’s military actions in Gaza, which they characterized as indiscriminate bombings resultin...

Fall of Assad is a Blow to Russia's Prestige

The potential fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, a long-standing ally of Russia, would mark a turning point in Moscow’s global influence, particularly in the Middle East. Steve Rosenberg’s analysis underscores the profound implications for Russia, which has invested heavily—both militarily and politically—in ensuring Assad’s survival over the past decade. This article delves into why Assad’s downfall would strike at the core of Russian prestige and what it could mean for the broader geopolitical landscape. Russia's Strategic Commitment to Syria Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Russia has been a staunch supporter of Assad's regime. In 2015, Moscow launched a military intervention that proved decisive in stabilizing Assad’s hold on power. This intervention solidified Russia's role as a key power broker in the Middle East and demonstrated its willingness to project military power far beyond its borders. Syria is not just an ally for Russia; it is a...

Fire: UniJos Senate convenes emergency meeting on Monday

Fire at the University of Jos Library University of Jos is to convene an emergency senate meeting on Monday to review the level of damage done to the institution by the Saturday night inferno. The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Sebastian Maimako, disclosed this on Sunday after inspecting areas affected by the incident. The fire, which lasted for more than six hours, destroyed the Library Complex that equally houses the faculties of management and social sciences. The fire also destroyed examination scripts, books and very crucial materials. Consequently, the vice-chancellor said “the Senate will meet tomorrow (Monday) to take a decision about the unmarked examination scripts that were burnt.” On the cause of the inferno, Maimako said investigation had commenced, adding that “nothing has been confirmed yet. We are still investigating.” The vice chancellor said the school was already working with federal authorities toward establishing a main fire station since the mini fire station in t...