At least 25 inmates who escaped from the Jos Correctional Centre, Plateau State, some months ago, have been recaptured.

The PUNCH however reports that at least 220 other inmates who escaped during the invasion of the facility by gunmen in November 2021 remain at large.

A senior official of the Service, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the development on Sunday, though the spokesperson for Plateau Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service is unreachable.

The source said, “You know that during the invasion of the Correctional Service facility in Jos by the gunmen toward the end of November in 2021, about 262 inmates were discovered to be missing. Later, it was discovered that 9 of them were among those killed during the crossfire between the security operatives and the attackers.

“So far, we have recaptured 25 who fled the correctional facility while about eight of them who sustained injuries are still recuperating at the Jos University Teaching Hospital. One of the injured inmates has been discharged from the hospital and I saw him yesterday. So, if you subtract the 25 inmates who have been recaptured including the nine persons killed as well as the 8 inmates from the 262 that were initially found to be missing, you have about 220 that are still missing. That is the situation for now”

“We have a search party now and they are everywhere looking for the fleeing inmates. The other sister security agents are also on the lookout for them. But you know, this kind of special assignment requires adequate funding to achieve the fastest results and that is the challenge we are facing.”

Reacting to suggestions that the wave of kidnappings in Plateau State was due to the activities of the fleeing inmates, he said, “I don’t think it will be completely correct to attribute the kidnappings in the state to the fleeing inmates.

“Remember they escaped from the correctional facility. So, why did they escape? Of course, to hide from the authorities who they know are looking for them.

“So, the truth is that most of them that escaped are hiding and would not like to be seen. I’m not saying that one or two of them may not engage themselves in criminal activities but the majority of them are hiding. Whatever be the case, the Nigeria Correctional Service is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that those who escaped at the Jos Correctional Centre are recaptured.”