It has been two years since the Kuje Medium Custodial Centre in the Federal Capital Territory was attacked, resulting in over 400 inmates, including numerous terrorists, escaping and remaining on the run.
Despite continuous efforts, security agencies have so far been unsuccessful in apprehending the fugitives.
The Nigerian Correctional Service’s website data shows that more than 400 inmates who fled during the July 5, 2022 jailbreak have yet to be found, some of whom are linked to Boko Haram.
The jailbreak, which was claimed by the Islamic State in West Africa Province, led to over 900 inmates breaking free from the facility.
In response to the incident, Nigerian authorities initiated a manhunt and were able to recapture 421 inmates immediately.
The identities of the remaining escapees were shared with the International Criminal Police Organisation and disseminated to various security agencies.
There are growing concerns about the potential consequences of these fugitives still being at large.
Security expert Oladele Fajana, who spoke to our correspondent on Friday, highlighted poor data management as a significant factor impeding the re-apprehension of these individuals.
He noted, “Tracking down and re-arresting escapees becomes significantly more challenging without a thorough and well-maintained database.”
Fajana underlined the issue of porous borders, suggesting that escapees could easily slip across into neighboring nations, complicating the efforts to capture them.
He emphasized, “The sluggish process of re-arresting these fleeing inmates can be attributed to deficient data management. Moreover, the proximity of open borders poses a challenge as the escapees may find refuge there. The government should ensure that the details of every citizen are documented to facilitate easy tracking and arrest in the event of any criminal activity.”