15 inmates escaped from Nsukka prison, Enugu

Fifteen inmates on Tuesday escaped from Nsukka prison in Enugu State. The overcrowded Nsukka prison, built to house 180 inmates currently accommodates about 500 inmates.

The officials are dazed at the speed with which the prisoners escaped.

It was learnt that the incident happened on Tuesday night when inmates opened the cell and scaled the fence.The Comptroller of Nsukka Prisons, Lawrence Okonkwo, confirmed the jailbreak to PREMIUM TIMES but gave no details.

“We are expecting the Enugu State Prisons controller, Mr. Isaiah Amateur in Nsukka prisons so that we briefed him on what happened last night,” he said.

“He will be the one to tell the public number of inmates that escaped, re-arrested ones and efforts put in place to arrest those still on the run.”

Our correspondent gathered that two of the escaped inmates were re-arrested Wednesday morning by security agents.

A reliable source at the prisons, who asked not to be named because he was authorised to speak on the matter, said,
“The inmates carefully open their cells and scaled the prison wall.

“Before prison officials on night duty know what was happening about 15 inmates have escaped.”