There was mild drama in the Isale-Oko area of Sagamu, Ogun State, on Wednesday after two inmates attempted to escape while being escorted back to custody following a court session.
A local source, who requested anonymity, told PUNCH Metro that the escape happened as officials of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) were returning the inmates to the custodial facility. The source explained that both inmates fled, prompting a hot chase by officers.
According to the source, one of the inmates was immediately rearrested on the spot, while the other initially escaped. However, the second fugitive was later tracked down and recaptured the same day.
Confirming the incident in a telephone conversation on Sunday, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Command of the NCoS, Olayinka Owolola, said the two inmates were apprehended without injuries or gunfire. He also disclosed that the escape attempt would attract further prosecution.
“They attempted, but we captured the two of them without any shooting or injuries. We intend to retry them in court for escape,” Owolola said.
Instances of attempted jailbreaks are not new in Nigeria. In August, 16 inmates broke out of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi, Nasarawa State, after overpowering officers on duty. Several personnel were injured during that incident before some of the escapees were recaptured.
