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The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) has revealed the details of how gunmen attacked its Medium Security Custodial Centre, in Oyo town, Oyo State.
A statement on Saturday by the NCS Public Relations Officer, Oyo State Command, DSC Olanrewaju Anjorin, said the facility was attacked by yet to be identified gunmen at about 9:30pm on Friday, October 22.
He said the invaders arrived the Centre heavily armed with sophisticated weapons, adding that after a fierce encounter with officers on guard, they 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 assured that no effort will be spared to recapture the fleeing inmates even as he solicit for credible intelligence to aid Security agencies in tracking down the fugitives,” he said.
According to Anjorin,Oyo Custodial Centre was established in 2007 with a capacity for 160 inmates, but at the time of attack, had a total population of 907.
“Of this number, awaiting trial persons were 837, representing 92%, with just 64 convicts,”he added.