Author: IMB Kallamu

Inmates were the major casualties of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Jos when gunmen reportedly stormed the facility in large numbers with sophisticated weapons on Sunday.

Sources from the Custodial Centre said that attackers who stormed the facility escaped with their members who were in custody.

Further investigation further revealed that most of those killed during the attack were fleeing inmates of the

Custodial Centre.

Impeccable sources revealed that one of the casualties during the shoot out with the assailants was alleged to be a one star officer who hails from Gindiri in Plateau state.

Meanwhile a statement from the correctional service has confirmed that 9 persons were shot dead during the attack on the Jos Custodial Centre.

A statement signed Francis Enobore for the spokesman of the Custodial Centre on behalf of the Controller General reads that one of the gunmen trapped within the Medium Security Custodial Center, Jos after invading the facility has been identified as one of those killed in the gun duel.

The statement reads that “The attackers who stormed the Custodial Center at about 1720hrs on Sunday 28th November 2021 engaged the Nigerian Correctional Service(NCoS) armed squad personnel in a fierce gun battle before breaking into the yard.

Sadly, one of the NCoS Armed Squad personnel paid the supreme price in the encounter while 9 inmates also lost their lives. Another staff of the Service was shot in the hand and 6 inmates were also injured in the attack.

Meanwhile, some of the attackers and a total of 262 inmates escaped in the melee beforè reinforcement could come from sister services.

However, 10 have so far been recaptured leaving 252 at large.

The statement further added that the Controller-General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa condoled with the family and friends of the gallant officer who paid the ultimate price in the encounter promising that the death will not be in vain as all the perpetrators will be hunted and made to face the full wrath of the law.

He thanked the officers and men of other security agencies for the assistance in bringing the situation under control and assured members of the public that the safety of inmates including their care and support, will continue to be a top priority in his administration.

He called for collaboration from patriotic individuals to apprehend the fleeing inmates as well as volunteering credible intelligence that could nip such ugly incidents in the bud.

Jos Medium Security Custodial Centre as at the time of attack, had 1,060 inmates comprising 560 pre-trial detainees and 500 convicts.

Also the Police command also confirmed that nine fleeing inmates from the Jos Correctional Centre have been arrested by the men of the force , this is even as one inmate who earlier left voluntarily surrendered himself.

The arrest was made during a stop and search operation carried out by the Police, the State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Gabriel Ubah disclosed.

Ubah who spoke with journalists on Monday in Jos, “said that On 28/11/2021 at about 1720hrs, the medium-security custodial centre in Jos came under attack by yet to be identified gunmen where some inmates escaped.

He added that Upon receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police Plateau State Command, CP Bartholomew Onyeka who led reinforcement to the scene, directed that the entire centre be cordoned.

“The CP also directed immediate stop and search where nine (9) escapees have been re-captured by the Police and are in custody while one escapee voluntarily surrendered himself to the Police. Based on the prompt response, the situation was brought under control by the superior gunfire of Security Agencies. The Police and other Security Agencies are currently on the ground to effectively deprive the hoodlums of the space they desire to perpetrate.

By Golok Nanmwa , Jos