- Seven inmates recaptured from Nasarawa jailbreak using digital biometric records linked with security agencies.
- Correctional facility management now on concurrent legislative list for federal and state collaboration.
The minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has said that Nigeria’s digitalised biometric system is helping to swiftly track down escaped inmates.
He made the remark on Thursday during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today.
Tunji-Ojo dismissed claims that there have been up to seven jailbreaks since 2023, insisting the actual number is far lower.
The minister explained that many correctional facilities in the country are over 100 years old, with 12 of the 246 centres currently undergoing rehabilitation.
“The simple truth is that from 2015 to 2023, these incidents were not under this government,” he said.
“I can tell you that jailbreaks are not as bad under this particular administration.”
Citing examples, he recalled the midnight jailbreak in Suleja, Niger State, caused by a collapsed fence.
“It was then we realised that much of our records system, our biometric system, was not really up to date,” he said.
“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 mentioned the Maiduguri flood disaster, which killed residents and submerged the correctional facility, stressing that it was beyond government control.
On the recent jailbreak in Nasarawa involving 16 inmates, Tunji-Ojo said seven have been recaptured due to the upgraded biometric system.
“The third incident, if I’m not wrong, is the one that happened about two or three days ago,” 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.”
He noted that medical facilities in some prisons have improved, with 50 doctors, 100 nurses and NYSC doctors deployed under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The minister also stated that correctional centre management is now on the concurrent legislative list, enabling state and federal operation.
According to him, about 72 per cent of inmates are state offenders, with 67 per cent awaiting trial, yet the federal government bears most of the cost.
“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.”