The Enugu State Controller of Nigeria Prisons Service, Isaiah Amariri, said that six of the prisoners that escaped from Nsukka Prisons on Tuesday night, have been re-arrested.
Amariri gave the figure to journalists in Nsukka, but declined to give the exact number of inmates that escaped from the prison.
He said the prison service is collaborating with security agents and community groups to recapture the remaining escapees.
“There was a jail break in Nsukka prisons on Tuesday night between 12pm and 3am, in which many inmates escaped, though six of them have been re-arrested.
“I cannot give the exact figure for now as investigations are still on. We will send our findings to the Controller General of Prisons who will make public the exact number and cause of Nsukka prisons jail break.
“The service is liaising with security agents and community vigilante groups to know the hideout of those still on the run in order to re-arrest them,” Amariri said.
He also assured that “After investigations on the jail break, any person in the service found to have been involved or aided the Tuesday jail break will be arrested and prosecuted no matter his or her position.
The prison Controller said “The prisons authorities are on top of the situation and will put measures in place to avoid a repeat of what happened on Tuesday night in Nsukka.”
He called on individuals who might have any information on the whereabouts of the fleeing inmates, to report to relevant security agencies, promising that “such information will be given the confidentiality it deserves and source identity will be fully protected.”
According to Amariri, the Nsukka Prisons was established a hundred years ago with the original capacity of 168 inmates, but currently harbours 264 prisoners.