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Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has disclosed that Nigeria’s digitalised biometric system is speeding up the recapture of inmates who escape from correctional centres.
Speaking on Channels on Thursday, the minister dismissed claims that there have been as many as seven jailbreaks since 2023, insisting the figure is lower.
He also noted that many of Nigeria’s custodial centres are over a century old, with at least 12 of the 246 facilities currently undergoing rehabilitation.
“The simple truth is that from 2015 to 2023, these incidents were not under this government. I can tell you that jailbreaks are not as bad under this particular administration,” he said.
Citing incidents, Tunji-Ojo explained, “Number one: there was a jailbreak in Niger, in Suleja, in the middle of the night when the fence collapsed.
“It was then we realised that much of our records system, our biometric system, was not really up to date.
“We immediately worked on that because the key issue is not just making sure people don’t escape, but ensuring that once they do, you do everything to get them back.”
He also referred to the flood disaster in Maiduguri saying, “Aside from that, there was the flood in Maiduguri. That was nobody’s fault. You know what happened to the dam, people died, there was a disaster, and the entire correctional centre in Maiduguri was overflooded. That was not the fault of the government or the Nigerian Correctional Service.”
On the recent jailbreak in Nasarawa, where 16 inmates escaped, Tunji-Ojo said seven had already been recaptured, thanks to updated biometric records system and improved coordination with security agencies.
“The third incident, if I’m not wrong, is the one that happened about two or three days ago. We are investigating the case where 16 people escaped,” he said.
“As I speak to you, because we have digitalised the biometric system and linked up with all security agencies, those agencies are now better equipped to react.
“Out of the 16 who escaped, as of yesterday, we had arrested seven, with nine remaining. We are still working, and hopefully, within the next couple of days, we will get the remaining nine back.”
The minister added that medical facilities in some prisons have improved under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, with 50 doctors, 100 nurses, and NYSC doctors deployed to correctional centres.
He further explained that prison management is now on the concurrent legislative list, allowing both federal and state governments to operate facilities.
According to him, about 72 percent of inmates are state offenders, with 67 percent awaiting trial, yet the federal government bears most of their upkeep.
“We do not make excuses. The president always says we were elected to produce results, not to shift blame,” he said.
“As a government, we will continue to interface with state governors to develop a shared strategy to solve the correctional system’s problems.
“I want to put it on record that this administration has done a lot in the last two years in terms of providing resources and making sure our facilities and systems are better secured.”
