No fewer than 119 inmates have escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Suleja, Niger state.

The inmates were said to have escaped, following hours of heavy downpours which destroyed parts of the facility on Wednesday night.

Public Relations Officer of the Federal Capital Territory FCT Command of theNigeria Correctional Service NCoS, Adamu Duza made this known in a statement made available to newsmen on Thursday.

Duza revealed that the Service has immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms, and in conjunction with sister security agencies, disclosing that 10 of the fleeing inmates have been recaptured and taken back into custody.

The statement read: “A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday, 24 April 2024 has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centres, Suleja, Niger state, as well as surrounding buildings, destroying part of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of a total of one hundred and nineteen (119) inmates of the facility.

“The Service has immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms, and in conjunction with sister security agencies have so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody, while we are in hot chase to recapture the rest.

The Service is not unmindful of the fact that many of its facilities were built during the colonial era and that they are old and weak.

“The Service is making frantic efforts to see that all ageing facilities give way to modern ones. This is evidenced in the ongoing construction of six (6) 3000-capacity ultra-modern custodial centres in all the geo-political zones in Nigeria as well as the ongoing reconstruction and renovation of existing ones.

“The Service wishes to assure the public that it is on top of the situation and that they should go about their businesses without fear or hindrance. The public is further enjoined to look out for the fleeing inmates and report any suspicious movement to the nearest security agency,” it stated.

Two suspects identified as Brown John (26) and Ayodele Azeez (30) have been arrested for attacking and robbing one Juliet Imubhin, a Pastor of Deeper Life Church in Benin, Edo State during service.

The suspects also robbed all the other worshipers in the church of their valuables.

The State Police Cmmissioner, Funsho Adegboye, paraded the suspects at the Command’s headquarters in Benin, added that they also abducted the pastor and took her away in her vehicle.

“She said three armed men walked into the church with guns and robbed them of their valuables.

“The armed robbers abducted the Pastor and took her away in her Toyota Highlander jeep with registration AGL 739 HR, to unknown destination where they forced her to disclose her ATM pin number which they used to syphoned her money from the account,” he said.

The CP further disclosed that two days after the robbery, operatives of the Command’s crack team while acting on a tip-off, intercepted the vehicle with the driver along Auchi Road and arrested the suspects and recovered the vehicle.

In an interview with the suspects, Brown John denied involvement in the alleged robbery.

He said he was only following his friend to escort a new vehicle to be delivered to its owner.

“My friend only asked me to join him to escort a vehicles that would be delivered to its owner. We were on the road when the police arrested us. I only got to know that it was a stollen vehicle after we were arrested by the police.”

On his part, Ayodele who also denied involvement in the crime, said it was his (unnamed) friend now at large that ask him to escort the vehicle to be delivered to the owner, promising to give him money.

According to him, “I know nothing about the robbery. On the said date of the robbery, I went to attend OPC meeting and after the meeting I went to meet my father.

“I met my friend at a drinking joint, we were drinking when he received a call that they are taking a vehicle to its owner, he then asked if I want to escort vehicle, I agreed because he said they will pay money for escorting the vehicle.”

Governor Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto State has sacked 15 district heads for allegedly aiding insecurity and engaging in land racketeering.

The governor also said the previous administration did not follow due process in the appointment of the district heads.

In a statement on Tuesday, April 23, by Abubakar Bawa, press secretary to the governor, Aliyu approved the reinstatement of seven district heads and placed four others under investigation.

He said the reinstatement and dethronement was based on the recommendation of the committee set up to review the appointments of traditional rulers in the state.

The governor approved the transfer of  Binji and Sabon Birni district heads to Gatawa and Bunkari ward.

“His Excellency the executive governor of Sokoto state, Ahmad Aliyu Sokoto, PhD, FCNA has approved the implementation of the recommendations made by the committee set up to review the appointments of traditional rulers, renaming of tertiary institutions and the dissolution of governing boards of state parastatals other than the Statutory bodies,” the statement reads.

“The district heads of Tsaki and Asara are to retain their positions. The cases involving district heads of Isa, Kuchi, Kilgori and Gagi have been recommended for further investigations.

“Alh. Sama’ila Abdulkadir Mujeli is to return to his former post as Sarkin Rafin Gumbi.

“Nine (9) district heads namely; Unguwar Lalle, Yabo, Wamakko, Tulluwa, Illela, Dogon Daji, Kebbe, Alkammu, and Giyawa are hereby relieved of their appointments, for various offences bordering on insubordination, aiding insecurity, land racketeering, conversion of public properties for personal use, and in the overriding public interest.

“Similarly, six (6) district heads namely; Marafan Tangaza.Sarkin Gabas Kalambaina, Bunun Gongono, Sarkin Kudun Yar Tsakkuwa, Sarkin Tambuwal and Sarkin Yamman Torankawa are hereby dropped for the haphazard and unprocedural processes in their appointments by the immediate past administration as well as their total rejection by their subjects.”

The seven district heads retained include Aliyu Abubakar III, Ibrahim Dasuki Moh’d Maccido, Abubakar Buhari Salame, Aminu Aliyu Bello, and Mahmud Shehu Yabo Mahe.

Others are Muntari Muhammad Tukur Ambarura Ambarura, and Malam Isah Aliyu Rarah.