Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has confirmed the death of two security agents in the state during the attack on Medium Security Custodial Centre, Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), Abolongo, Oyo town in Oyo State around 10:00p.m. on Friday October 22.
They include a corporal of the Nigerian Army attached to Operation Burst, and an operative of Oyo State Security Network Agency also known as Amotekun Corps.
Another Amotekun operative, a female is currently at the University College Hospital receiving treatment.
Makinde, who made this in a state broadcast aired on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), Saturday night, said the government has directed the security agencies to deploy personnel to critical national assets within the state and to monitor all entrances and exit points across the state.
Makinde, called for calm, stated that security agencies in the state have been put on high alert.
The Governor stated that he had earlier visited another Amotekun Corp, Shukurat Omoba, who was injured in the attack.
He added that the state is deploying all resources to ensure that she survives the situation, while also urging residents to join in prayers for her speedy recovery.
“I am addressing you today to update you about recent happenings affecting the security of our state. Last night, security operatives responded to a distress call about a jailbreak in the Abolongo Correctional Centre, Oyo town.
“The correctional facility had been attacked with explosives, and some inmates were set free. Our security men were ambushed. As a result, we lost two of our security agents, a corporal of the Nigerian Army attached to Operation Burst, and an Operative of the Oyo State Amotekun Corps.
“Aside from the two lives lost, we had several operatives injured. I must mention that one of our Amotekun female volunteers, Shukurat Omoba, is presently in critical condition.
“I have visited her at the hospital, and we are deploying all state resources to ensure that she survives this. Please, let us all join in prayer for her speedy and complete recovery.
“Although, some inmates have been recovered and taken back into custody, some are still at large. All security agencies have been placed on high alert to ensure that all that escaped are rearrested and returned to custody.
“I am, therefore, using this opportunity also to put the citizens on alert. There is no better time to repeat the call to action: if you see something, please say something. These criminals would want to go to areas where they will not be easily rearrested. If you spot any unexplained strangers in your community, please call the 615-security emergency number immediately, and make a report.
“I have directed the security agencies to deploy personnel to critical national assets within the state and to monitor all entrance and exit points across the state,” he said.
The Custodial Centre was established in 2007 with a capacity of 160 inmates, but at the time of the attack, the facility had a total population of 907 inmates, out of which awaiting trial persons were 837, representing 92 per cent, while 64 are convicts.
Among the high profile inmates, remanded at Abolongo Custodial Centre, are the alleged territorial warlord and kidnapping kingpin of Ibarapa area of the state, Iskilu Wakili, and the suspected serial killer that terrorised many communities in Akinyele Local Government Area of the state between May and August 2020, Sunday Sodipe.
It was gathered that the gunmen, during the attack set all the awaiting trial persons free.
But, the spokesman of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) in the State, Olanrewaju Anjorin, said 262 awaiting trial persons have been recaptured, adding that 575 inmates are still at large.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has said that he has been briefed on the attack, disclosing that he is monitoring the situation.
A statement issued by his Media Adviser, Sola Fasure, stated that Aregbesola has assured members of the public to go about their normal businesses as the situation is under control, adding that the minister has also asked members of the public to report any suspicious movement or any sign of the escaped inmates and the gunmen in and around the vicinity to the nearest security post around them.
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