At least 12 inmates have escaped from the Federal Correctional Centre, Kotonkarfe, Kogi State.
The incident happened in the early hours of Monday.
In a statement, the State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, said the inmates broke free through the tower.
He said the state government will work with security operatives to unravel the cause of the break as well as ensure that escapees are rearrested.
According to the commissioner, Governor Usman Ododo has asked security agencies to ensure such security breaches do not happen again.
“The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns.
“This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system.
“We call on the public to report any suspicious individuals in their communities. Anyone found harbouring an escaped inmate will be held accountable.
“There is no cause for panic. We encourage citizens to go about their daily activities as normal, knowing that the security of lives and property remains our top priority,” Fanwo said.
This isn’t the first prison break in Kogi State.
In 2014, 144 prisoners escaped from the Koto-Karffi Federal Medium Security Prisons.
