BY Uthman-Baba Naseer,Minna

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NcoS), has announced the escape of sixteen inmates from the Keffi, Medium Security Custodial Centre Nasarawa State.

This was contained in a press release issued by the head of Media and Public Relation of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NcoS) Umar Danlami Abubakar DCC and obtained by our reporter in Minna, stated that some inmates at the facility, breached the security and attacked the personnel on duty.

The attacked, according to the head of the Media of the Service, was to make the personnel on duty to compromise the situation enabling sixteen inmates to escape custody.

The Nigerian Correctional Service wishes to inform the general public of an incident that occurred in the early hours of today 12th August, 2025 at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Keffi (New), Nasarawa State.

He disclosed as a result of curtailing the ugly situation,five Personnel of the facility sustained various degrees of injury, while two others are currently receiving urgent medical attention at a government medical facility.

Out of the fleeing inmates he disclosed that seven of them have been recaptured back and are now in custody.

The Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, he said has visited the facility and has ordered a thorough investigation into the escape

He said no staff will be spared if found culpable. Furthermore, he has directed an immediate search to recapture the fleeing inmates in collaboration with sister security agencies.

He called on members of the Public to remain calm, vigilant and to promptly report any strange movements or sightings of fleeing inmates to the nearest security agencies for prompt action.

“Members of the public are hereby urged to remain calm, vigilant, and to promptly report any suspicious movements or sightings of fleeing inmates to the nearest security formation”

While preliminary investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the escape, the Service reassures the public of its unwavering commitment to public safety and the security of all custodial facilities nationwide

He reiterated the controller General stand of dealing with Personnel found in complicity in the incident will be sanctioned accordingly

By George Mgbeleke

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has expressed deep concern over the reported extortion of over N56 million from farmers in Zamfara State by armed groups as well as the chilling video of an entire village in Ifelodun Local Government of Kwara State, completely abandoned to bandits, Nigeria under President Tinubu and the APC is sliding into a dangerous new phase of state failure.

In a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said a situation where farmers had to pay money to terrorists before they could gain access to their own farmlands, is not just a Zamfara tragedy, but a national warning.

“A situation where people had to abandon an entire town to bandits, in the very heart of the country, is not just a local challenge but an evidence of national surrender.

“When armed gangs can collect N56 million from farmers for the “right” to plant food, the issue is no longer about insecurity. It is about criminal elements contesting the right to govern a part of Nigeria. When criminals can tax citizens at gunpoint, it means the state has surrendered its monopoly of force and state authority is in retreat.

“We are dismayed that this could be happening in a country with one of the largest defence budgets in Africa, yet our farmers are left to bargain with warlords for their survival. We recall that in the same Zamfara state only a few days ago about 50 people were abducted in one swoop.”

According to the statement,”this is the eerie picture of an entire town where all the people, the young, the old and the infirm had to seek refuge elsewhere for fear of bandits attacks. There are other cases which shows a very alarming pattern suggesting that other parts of the country considered safe may not be so for long.

“The pertinent question therefore is whether the Tinubu-led APC government is still in charge and can still be trusted to do its most fundamental duty, which is to protect the lives and properties of Nigerians.

“We recall that in November 2014, President Bola Tinubu, leader of opposition party at the time, asked President Goodluck Jonathan to resign over the Boko Haram Challenges in The North-East of the country.

His words: “If you control the armed forces and you are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic, why should any part of this country be under occupation? And you give us excuses every day. In any civilized country Jonathan should have resigned.

“Although the security situation that President Tinubu was using to campaign in 2014 had multiplied exponentially under his party and is currently enjoying great prosperity under his direct watch, no one is calling on him to resign.

“The ADC does not want President Tinubu to resign. We only ask him to do his job. We also ask the pertinent question, why did the President think that the security situation in Rivers State warranted the declaration of state of emergency, but the one in Zamfara with industrial scale kidnapping and a direct challenge to the authority of the Nigerian State by way of bandit tax does not even deserve a direct comment from him?”

Continuing party said “We will like to urge President Tinubu to drop whatever else that pre-occupies him and direct his attention to Zamfara State and other parts of the country menaced by bandits.

“If the Tinubu administration cannot guarantee the safety of our farms and farming communities, if people could be forced to abandon their homes out of fear, then it has failed in its most basic responsibility.

“You cannot boast that you are in charge of your country while your reported extortion i their survival with criminals.”