The Federal Government says fleeing inmates of Kabba Medium Security Custodial Centre in Kogi who return of their own accord will be eligible for mitigation.
Minister of interior Rauf Aregbesola stated this in a release on Monday after the correctional facility was attacked at midnight.
The statement signed by the minister’s spokesman Sola Fasure quoted the minister as assuring the general public that Nigeria’s security forces would find the attackers and bring them to justice.
“We shall leave no stone unturned to bring the inmates who escaped back to the custody. We are also putting INTERPOL on notice with their details, in case any of them attempts fleeing outside our shores,” Aregbesola said.
“We urge the people, especially the communities around the custodial facility, to be vigilant and report any strange and suspicious persons or activities to the nearest law enforcement agency.
“To the fleeing inmates, escaping from lawful custody is a serious criminal offence.
“Law enforcement agencies and citizens are lawfully empowered to use all necessary means to arrest and bring you to justice.
“You should therefore, know what you are up against. You will however be eligible for mitigation if you willfully surrender yourselves at the nearest law enforcement office.”
Fasure said that during the attack, security officers on duty which comprised of 15 soldiers, 10 police officers and 10 armed prison guards tried to repel the attack.
He said that two officers of the custodial service were yet to be accounted for while one soldier and a policeman lost their lives during the attack.
“The facility had 294 inmates as at the time of the attack, many of whom escaped after the gunmen used explosives to destroy three sides of the perimeter fence.
“Remaining 28 inmates who didn’t escape. Meanwhile, some of the inmates who escaped have also voluntarily returned to the facility this morning,” he added.
