Nigeria’s Jailbreak Crisis

CSR REPORTERS notes how deeply troubling that senior officers in Nigeria’s correctional system are being linked to the disturbing rise in jailbreaks across the country.

The Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Nwakuche, recently accused zonal coordinators, state controllers, and custodial centre officers of negligence and complicity. These allegations are not without precedent.

In 2021, then Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola raised similar concerns, accusing officers of smuggling contraband, escorting inmates to unauthorised places, enabling them to run criminal networks from behind bars, and even aiding prison breaks. Those who betray their duty in this way must face consequences.

Official figures show that between 2019 and 2025, no fewer than 6,700 inmates escaped from 13 facilities nationwide. Roughly 2,000 have since been recaptured, but more than 4,600 remain at large. Notable incidents include the April 2021 attack on the Owerri Correctional Centre, where 1,844 inmates escaped; the July 2022 Kuje jailbreak in Abuja, where 879 inmates were freed by ISWAP terrorists; the March 2025 incident in Koton Karfe, Kogi State, which saw 12 inmates escape; and the August 2025 Keffi jailbreak in Nasarawa, where 16 inmates fled. Infrastructure collapse also fuels the problem, as seen in April 2024 when 108 prisoners escaped from Suleja Medium Security Centre after heavy rainfall caused a section of the wall to cave in.

Poor prison conditions are at the root of this crisis. With some facilities over a century old, Nigeria’s custodial centres are grossly unfit for purpose. Overcrowding worsens matters, with nearly 70 per cent of inmates still awaiting trial. Of the 77,800 inmates held across 240 prisons, only about 26,898 have been convicted. The judiciary must urgently fast-track trials to reduce congestion.

The government has made some interventions. The Interior Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, recently announced reforms, including the provision of 39 operational vehicles and bullet-resistant guard booths. President Bola Tinubu also approved the recruitment of medical personnel and the rehabilitation of at least 12 custodial centres. Feeding allowances for inmates were increased last year from N750 to N1,125 per day. These efforts are commendable, but they barely scratch the surface.

Nigeria must go beyond temporary fixes. Feeding, healthcare, infrastructure, and living conditions in prisons require holistic reform. Human rights abuses must end, and the NCoS Act 2019, which prioritises rehabilitation and reintegration over punitive detention, should be fully implemented. Non-custodial measures such as community service and restorative justice must be embraced to decongest prisons, while outdated facilities should be demolished and rebuilt. Intelligence gathering and surveillance also need strengthening, with operations benchmarked against global standards like the Nelson Mandela Rules and Bangkok Rules.

Countries such as Norway, Germany, and New Zealand demonstrate that prisons can prioritise rehabilitation, education, and vocational training while reducing re-offending. Nigeria should take a similar approach, upgrading prison staff training and establishing effective programmes that prepare inmates for life after release.

Prisons must be truly correctional centres, not warehouses of neglect and despair.

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