The Oyo Medium Security Custodial Centre in Oyo State has said the gunmen that attacked its centre used dynamites to blast the wall freeing 837 prison inmates.
A statement signed by Oyo State Command Public Relations Officer, CSC Anjorin Olanrewaju said the invaders were said to have arrived at the Centre heavily armed with sophisticated weapons and after a fierce encounter with officers on guard, gained entrance into the yard using dynamite to blast the wall.
He said a total of 262 of the escapees have been recaptured leaving 575 still at large.
The statement reads: “The Oyo Medium Security Custodial Centre, in Oyo State, was attacked by yet to be identified gunmen at about 2130hrs on Friday 22nd October 2021.
“The invaders were said to have arrived at the Centre heavily armed with sophisticated weapons and after a fierce encounter with officers on guard, gained entrance into the yard using dynamite to blast the wall.
“While all the awaiting trial detainees were forced out of custody, the cells housing the convicts and the female inmates were not vandalised.
“Meanwhile, a total of 262 of the escapees have been recaptured leaving 575 still at large. Following the directives of the Controller General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa mni, the State Controller, Noel Ailewon has commenced the process of search and recapture after visiting the scene of the incident.”
He, however, assured that no effort will be spared to recapture the fleeing inmates even as he solicits for credible intelligence to aid Security agencies in tracking down the fugitives.
Oyo Custodial Centre was established in 2007 with a capacity of 160 inmates but at the time of the attack, had a total population of 907. Of this number, awaiting trial persons were 837 representing 92% with just 64 convicts.
