The Federal Government on Thursday disclosed that it has recaptured many of the inmates who last month fled the Suleja Custodial Centre following the collapse of its perimeter fence during a downpour.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this when he inspected ongoing security projects at the Medium Security Custodial facility in Kuje, Abuja.
He also said the government was closing in on a few inmates who were still on the run.
“We have recaptured a lot of people and work is actually going on. We are working with other sister agencies but the details of that, I won’t be able to disclose this in public so as to avoid jeopardising the hard work of the agencies.
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“We want to reemphasise that it is no longer business as usual but business unusual,” the minister said.
On plans to improve the custodial facility, he said: “We are building a 125-bed Custodial Centre beside the current centre in Suleja to be able to solve the problem of overcrowding.
“We are putting in everything to make sure that our correctional centres are safe and foolproof to attacks while we are also taking care of the welfare of the inmates”.
The minister who was impressed with the improved facilities at the Kuje centre, said the development would be replicated across other custodial centres in the country.
He said, at present, nine custodial centres are receiving massive facelifts with standard perimeter fences and expansion of certain corridors.
“Basically, it is not just about Kuje. I am happy to tell you that about nine of our Custodial Centres are being worked on, not just the fencing but even the ICT components and other internal structures.
“In the next couple of weeks, we are very optimistic that there will be a complete turnaround for Kuje which is going to be like a model for all other centres”, he added.
