Over 80 Fleeing Inmates Return To Imo Correctional Centre

More than 80 prisoners who escaped from the Owerri Custodial
Centre have voluntarily returned, According to TheNation report.^[1]

A source at the Nigerian Correctional Service disclosed this to
our correspondent.

He said: “About 17 of them returned on Tuesday and on Wednesday,
we saw more than 20 returning back.

“But they are mainly those on awaiting trial, those who have
less prison term and those who are about to complete their terms,
have returned so far”.

About 42 of the inmates returned as of Monday evening, taking
the total number of returnees to 80.

”The problem we are having, and this is not peculiar to the jail
break here, is that none of the hardened and condemned inmates
(HCI) who escaped has returned.

“This is understandable because it will take a miracle for a
person who knows that his execution can take place any moment, to
return after his freedom was given to him freely by those who broke
into the facility,” the source said.

Gunmen whom the police said were members of the Indigenous
People of Biafra (IPOB) had attacked the Correctional facility and
freed 1,844 inmates on Monday.

It is expected with the amnesty announced by the Minister of
Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, more of the escapees would return back
to the facility to continue their terms.

The source added: “Most of the returnee inmates were escorted
back by their parents, lawyers and relations.

“We are expecting that more will return by the weekend.

“Most of them want to return but they’re afraid that they might
be manhandled by some security agents.

“We have very good inmates whose characters we can vouch for.
That’s why we need to bring back the parole policy.”

When contacted, the public relations officer of Owerri
Correctional Service, James Madugba, confirmed more escapees were
still returning to the centre.

He however said he could not confirm the number of prisoners
that had returned so far.

More than 80 prisoners who escaped from the Owerri Custodial
Centre have voluntarily returned, According to TheNation report.^[1]

A source at the Nigerian Correctional Service disclosed this to
our correspondent.

He said: “About 17 of them returned on Tuesday and on Wednesday,
we saw more than 20 returning back.

“But they are mainly those on awaiting trial, those who have
less prison term and those who are about to complete their terms,
have returned so far”.

About 42 of the inmates returned as of Monday evening, taking
the total number of returnees to 80.

”The problem we are having, and this is not peculiar to the jail
break here, is that none of the hardened and condemned inmates
(HCI) who escaped has returned.

“This is understandable because it will take a miracle for a
person who knows that his execution can take place any moment, to
return after his freedom was given to him freely by those who broke
into the facility,” the source said.

Gunmen whom the police said were members of the Indigenous
People of Biafra (IPOB) had attacked the Correctional facility and
freed 1,844 inmates on Monday.

It is expected with the amnesty announced by the Minister of
Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, more of the escapees would return back
to the facility to continue their terms.

The source added: “Most of the returnee inmates were escorted
back by their parents, lawyers and relations.

“We are expecting that more will return by the weekend.

“Most of them want to return but they’re afraid that they might
be manhandled by some security agents.

“We have very good inmates whose characters we can vouch for.
That’s why we need to bring back the parole policy.”

When contacted, the public relations officer of Owerri
Correctional Service, James Madugba, confirmed more escapees were
still returning to the centre.

He however said he could not confirm the number of prisoners
that had returned so far.