Sixteen inmates broke out of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi in the early hours of Tuesday after overpowering prison staff and injuring five officers, two of them critically.
Spokesperson for the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Umar Abubakar, said the escapees breached the facility’s security during the attack. Seven of the fugitives have been recaptured, while a manhunt is underway for the remaining nine.
“The inmates attacked personnel on duty, enabling 16 to escape custody. Five officers were injured, with two in serious condition,” Abubakar said in a statement.
Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, visited the prison shortly after the incident, ordering a full investigation and warning that any staff found complicit would face disciplinary action. He also directed an immediate, coordinated search with other security agencies.
Authorities have urged residents to remain calm and report any suspicious sightings.
The incident adds to a series of jailbreaks in Nigeria in recent years. In 2024, 118 inmates escaped from Suleja Prison in Niger State after heavy rainfall weakened the facility’s old structures, leading to a collapse.
