Thirteen inmates break out of prison in Kogi (photo)

A prison break has reportedly occurred at the Koton Karfe Medium Security Prison in Kogi State.

About 13 inmates at the new prison site are said to have broken out of their cells and escaped through the prison fence in the bush.

Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, in the company of the Commissioner of Police and some political office holders, stormed the Koton-Karfe prison to see things for himself, but was denied access to the prison yard as there was no prison official to take him round.

The officer in charge of the prison, Kosso Lawal, was said to have left before the Governor’s arrival.

Bello was received and briefed by his Special Adviser on Security, Jerry Omodara, who was already at the prison.

Some of the information available to the Governor was that the welfare officer of the prison allowed the inmates access to their phones and this enabled them to communicate with their family members and gangs outside.

It was also reported that military men who were deployed to the prison yard to guard it were not allow to go inside, their beds and property are kept outside where they sleep.
A prisons officials said that one of the rules guiding the prisons is that, only their officials are allowed in.

Governor Bello was was displeased and had to put a call across to the Kogi State Prison Controller, Musa Yahaya Maza, who was said to be at home in Lokoja.

This is about the third time a prison break is taking place at the Koton Karfe Prison.