Prison breaks are a pervasive issue in Nigeria due to a lack of security and being a common target by
militants. Prison breaks have resulted in the escape of over 7,000 prisoners from Nigerian prisons since 2010.
Agodi prison break The
Agodi prison break was an attack on the Agodi Minimum Security Prison in
Ibadan, the capital of
Oyo State, Nigeria by condemned criminals. It was reported that about eight inmates died in the attempt leaving eighteen others injured.
Bauchi prison break On 7 September 2010, a prison break was reported in Bauchi prison in the
northern Nigerian city of
Bauchi by 50 gunmen suspected to be members of
Boko Haram. This attack resulted in the escape of 721 prisoners, leaving 5 people dead with 6 injured persons.
Edo prison break (2012) On 19 August 2012, a prison break was reported in Oko by unknown gunmen. It was reported that explosives were used in the attack, however, the police denied that claim. The reports had it that no deaths were recorded and no fewer than 10 inmates escaped.
Ogun prison break On 4 January 2013, it was reported that
Shagamu minimum prison in the southwestern
Nigerian city of
Ogun State was attacked resulting in the escape of 20 prisoners leaving several prison officials and other prisoners injured. About 4 escapee were rearrested by the Armed Squad of the Prison Service.
Ondo prison break On 30 June 2013, it was reported that the Olokuta Medium Security Prison in
Akure, the capital of
Ondo State,
Nigeria were attacked by 50 unknown gunmen suspected to be Armed robbers. The prison break resulted in the escape of 175 prisoners leaving 2 people dead and 1 warder injured. About 54 escapee were rearrested.
Lagos prison break On 10 October 2014, an unsuccessful prison break at the Kirikiri Medium Prison in
Lagos State, a southwestern Nigeria by some convicted inmates of the prison was reported. This incident left 20 prisoners dead and 80 others injured and 12 escaped.
Kogi prison break On 2 November 2014, another prison break was reported in Koto-Karffi Federal Medium Security Prisons in
Kogi State, in north-central Nigeria by numbers of gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram. This incident resulted in the escape of 144 prisoners from the prison leaving 1 inmate dead and 45 escaped prisoners were rearrested.
Ekiti prison break On 30 November 2014, another attack on the federal prison at
Ado Ekiti, a city of
Ekiti State by 60 unknown gunmen was reported. This attack resulted in the escape of 341 prisoners leaving one prison official dead. About 10 prisoners were recaptured during the attack and 67 escapee was rearrested thereafter.
Minna prison break On 6 December 2014, about a week after the
Ekiti prison break, Minna medium prison was attacked by 3 unknown gunmen suspected to be
armed robbers. This prison break resulted in the escape of 270 prisoners leaving 1 security officer injured with no death recorded.
Kuje prison break On 24 June 2016, there was a jailbreak at the Kuje Medium Security in the Federal Capital Territory where two high-profile inmates in persons of Solomon Amodu and Maxwell Ajukwu both of them awaiting trial for homicide escaped from custody by scaling through the fence. The Kuje prison chief was removed after this jailbreak by the Controller General of the Nigerian Prison service. On 29 August 2016, authorities of the Nigeria Prisons in the Federal Capital Territory reported another unsuccessful attempted jailbreak at the Kuje Medium Security Prison. Authorities said some inmates tried to resist the routine cell-search which is part of the operational guidelines which led to an altercation between the officers and the inmates. The situation was quickly put under control and order restored as no prisoner was injured or any property damaged in the facility.
Edo prison break (2020) On 19 October 2020, a group of people under the disguise of ENDSARs protesters, allegedly attacked the prisons in
Benin City and Oko in Edo State freeing about 1,993 inmates in custody and looted the facility carting away weapons. The attackers came in large numbers with dangerous weapons and attacked the officers on guard duty and quickly forced the cells open and destroyed properties in the facility.
Owerri prison break On 5 April 2021, a group believed to be
Eastern Security Network attacked Owerri Prison in
Owerri,
Imo State. ESN came into the prison heavily armed with machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades and improvised explosive devices. The militants used explosives to access the administrative block and released 1,844 inmates and also burnt down other police facilities within the vicinity of the prison.
Federal Capital Territory (FCT) •
Kuje Prison (July 5, 2022): A coordinated attack by the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) led to the escape of 879 inmates, including 64 terrorists. The attackers used explosives and firearms, resulting in casualties among security personnel and inmates. This was one of Nigeria's most prominent prison breaks in recent years.
Delta State •
Agbor Prison (May 13, 2022): Following heavy rainfall, the northern perimeter wall of the prison collapsed, allowing three inmates to escape. This incident highlighted infrastructural vulnerabilities in Nigerian prisons.
Kwara State •
Mandala Custodial Centre, Ilorin (January 2, 2022): Three inmates escaped under unclear circumstances, marking the year's first reported jailbreak.
Imo State •
Owerri Correctional Centre (April 2022): Although reports for 2022 were minimal, the 2021 attack on this facility, allegedly carried out by the Eastern Security Network (a militia wing of IPOB), continued to draw attention due to ongoing security concerns in the region. ==References==