The Nigerian Correctional Service has announced that some of the inmates who escaped from the Owerri custodial centre have voluntarily returned.
NCoS put the number of those that have found their ways back to the centre to be roughly 125.
This was contained in a statement issued by the NCoS spokesperson, Francis Enobore, a Controller of Corrections yesterday.
Enabore issued the statement to keep the general public abreast of efforts being made by NCoS to capture the inmates who are still at large after fleeing from its custody two weeks ago.
He noted that some undisclosed International organisations were reaching out to the service to offer some form of assistance in tracking down the missing inmates.
Enobore stated, “We have already reached out to the Interpol through the Nigeria Police Force. A lot of other international organisations are getting information from our website. Some organisations called to collect certain information from our website, we are working in synergy with them.
‘’Altogether, we have 125 inmates back in custody as at close of work yesterday (Friday). According to the information I got, most of them are returning by themselves. All their pictures and data have been circulated everywhere, so they know there is no hiding place for them.
‘’Some were brought back by their parents. We have also been reinforcing the message that instead of remaining a fugitive for life, it’s better they come back on their own.’’
The service further said the upgrade of its system enabled it to quickly collate the data and pictures of the inmates, a development Enobore said helped greatly with the manhunt for them.
He added that their particulars had also been dispatched to their relations and communities.
The announcement is coming two weeks after over 1,884 awaiting inmates and other dangerous convicts fled the prison during the attack in which several vehicles were torched and buildings vandalised.
About 600 suspects held at the Imo State Police Command headquarters were also released by the gunmen who carried out the attack.
