Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has urged residents of Abolongo and its environs to be very vigilant and report suspicious movement of strangers in their vicinity to security agents.
Aregbesola made the call today following last night breaking into Abolongo Custodial centre, in Oyo, Oyo State by unidentified gunmen who helped many awaiting trial inmates to escape from the facility.
In a statement by the Media Adviser to the Minister, Sola Fasure, Aregbesola who confirmed that some of the inmates who escaped after the jail break have returned to the facility, however called on the residents of the area to be more vigilant because some of the inmates who are yet to return to the facility and gunmen may still be lurking around in their neighborhoods.
“He also requires 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,”the statement said.
The minister who said the situation has been brought under control, added that security agencies are on the trail of the escaped inmates, while a joint security services manhunt has been launched immediately for the apprehension of the assailants.
He also said, “This has led to the capture of some of the inmates while others returned voluntarily.”
The minister however advised those who are on the run to turn themselves in, as escape from lawful custody is a serious offence, saying, “the full weight of the law will be brought on them when arrested!”
Narrating how the jailbreak was carried out by the heavily armed gunmen, the statement said: “At about 10.00 pm yesterday, October 22, 2021, a large number of heavily-armed gunmen attacked the Abolongo Custodial Centre, in Oyo, Oyo State.
“Armed squad unit members of the Nigerian Correctional Service and other security agencies on guard at the facility engaged the attackers in a gun duel that lasted for 20 minutes before they were overpowered.
“The attackers subsequently used grenades and other explosives to gain access into the awaiting trial section of the facility and set free many of the awaiting trial inmates. Other sections of the facilities were left untouched.”
