A minimum of 12 prisoners have broken out of the Federal Correctional Centre located in Kotonkarfe, Kogi State. The escape occurred in the early hours of Monday.

In a statement, Kingsley Fanwo, the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, reported that the inmates escaped via the tower.

He said, “The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns.

“This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system.

“We call on the public to report any suspicious individuals in their communities. Anyone found harbouring an escaped inmate will be held accountable.

“There is no cause for panic. We encourage citizens to go about their daily activities as normal, knowing that the security of lives and property remains our top priority.”