No More Escapes! Senate Warns New NCoS Chief on Prison Breaks

The Nigerian Senate has officially confirmed the appointment of Nwakuche Ndidi as the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). In a session held on Tuesday, Senate President Godswill Akpabio charged Ndidi with the critical task of addressing and eliminating the persistent issue of jailbreaks that have plagued the nation’s correctional facilities.

Ndidi’s confirmation follows his tenure as Acting Controller-General since December 15, 2024, after succeeding Haliru Nababa upon the latter’s retirement. The Senate’s decision was based on a comprehensive report from the Committee on Interior, led by Senator Adams Oshiomhole, which found Ndidi to possess the requisite qualifications and noted the absence of any petitions or security concerns against him.

The urgency of this directive is underscored by a recent incident at the Federal Correctional Centre in Kotonkarfe, Kogi State, where 12 inmates escaped after overpowering a correctional officer, resulting in his death. While five escapees were promptly recaptured, the event highlights the vulnerabilities within the correctional system.

Nigeria’s correctional facilities are currently operating under severe strain, with a total inmate population of 80,183 as of March 2025, significantly exceeding the official capacity of 50,153. This overcrowding is further compounded by the fact that approximately 66.6% of inmates are awaiting trial, leading to heightened tensions and increased risk of unrest within the facilities.

The country has witnessed a series of jailbreaks in recent years, attributed to factors such as deteriorating infrastructure, insufficient funding, corruption, and inadequate staffing. Notable incidents include the 2024 escape of around 120 inmates from the Suleja correctional facility in Niger State due to structural failures caused by heavy rainfall, and the 2022 attack on the Kuje prison in the Federal Capital Territory, where suspected terrorists facilitated the escape of approximately 600 inmates. Earlier, in April 2021, over 1,800 inmates escaped from a facility in Imo State, followed by a July incident in Oyo State the same year, where more than 800 prisoners broke free.

In response to these challenges, the NCoS has initiated measures to bolster security and prevent future breaches. Collaborations with the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have been strengthened, leading to the deployment of additional personnel to custodial centers nationwide. NSCDC Commandant-General Dr. Ahmed Audi emphasized the importance of inter-agency cooperation, stating that no single institution can ensure the safety of custodial centers without collaborative efforts.

Despite these efforts, Senate President Akpabio has expressed skepticism regarding the rebranding of the Nigerian Prisons Service to the Nigerian Correctional Service, suggesting that the change has not yielded the desired improvements and may have coincided with an increase in jailbreaks.

The Senate’s directive to Ndidi underscores the critical need for comprehensive reforms within Nigeria’s correctional system. Addressing issues such as overcrowding, infrastructural decay, and enhancing the welfare and training of correctional officers are imperative steps toward ensuring the security and effectiveness of the nation’s custodial facilities.