The president, Bola Tinubu, allegedly issued a directive ordering the capture of all fugitive prisoners across the nation, according to interior minister Bunmi Tunji-Ojo.
At least seven attacks on detention facilities around the nation occurred between 2021 and 2022, during which numerous prisoners broke out of the facilities.
Prisons at Kuje, Kogi, Jos, Abologo, Owerri, Okitipupa, and Oko are among the seven custody facilities that have been targeted.
Currently, roughly 4,000 prisoners are still at large.
In a statement to the media on Wednesday following the inspection of the Nigerian Immigration Service and Nigerian Correctional Service’s facilities, Tunji-Ojo stated that the organization would make all effort to see that the president’s directive on evacuating inmates is strictly adhered to.
Additionally, he stated that the Nigerian Correctional Service would cooperate with national security organizations to bring them back.
Tunji-Ojo proclaimed, “The president has given us a matching order, and it entails recapturing the eluding prisoners. For this, we’ll collaborate with other security organizations. To ensure that they return from wherever they are, we will labor nonstop. We’ll take steps to prevent anybody inside from leaving.
Furthermore, he declared that penitentiary personnel would not put up with any sabotage.
We won’t accept sabotage, including other behaviors like duty neglect, said Tunji Ojo. Whoever attempts to sabotage will be met with our door being open.
The minister earlier promised to evaluate all current contracts to increase the effectiveness of the service while speaking at the Nigeria Immigration Service.
He added that those agreements were preventing the Service from carrying out its mandates and that he would form a team to do the evaluation.
“Any agreements (made by NIS) that are preventing us from progressing as a country must be annulled. I’ll form a team to look into it.
Tunji-Ojo bemoaned that Nigerians have to wait months to obtain a passport and emphasized the need to shorten the wait time.
He bemoaned the six-month wait his daughter experienced to obtain her passport.
“My kid awaited the arrival of her passport booklet for six months. Tell me what an average Nigerian will experience. I was a House committee on NDDC chairman. Like we’re looking for a ticket to heaven.
In addition, he ordered that Nigerians seeking foreign passports be treated with dignity, especially those abroad.
Personnel at the London passport office are required to follow Tunji-Ojo’s instructions, he said directly.
According to him, having a passport is a right, not a privilege. Nigerians must be treated with respect wherever they are, especially those who are living abroad. When Nigerians inquire about travel documents, the London Immigration office has to provide better services and treat them with the utmost respect. Wherever they may be, our folks must be proud of who they are.
