A total of 85 persons out of the 1,844 inmates who were freed following the invasion of the Owerri Custodial Centre in Imo State by gunmen have voluntarily returned to the facility as at Wednesday noon.
InsideOjodu reported on Monday that suspected gunmen attacked the Owerri Correctional Prison in the Imo State capital and freed over 1500 inmates.
Hours after the attack, Enobore confirmed that the gunmen forcefully released a total of 1,844 inmates from custody.
But according a source on Wednesday said, “About 17 of them returned on Tuesday and on Wednesday, we saw more than 20 returning back.
“But they are mainly those on awaiting trial, those who have less prison term and those who are about to complete their terms, have returned so far”.
”The problem we are having, and this is not peculiar to the jail break here, is that none of the hardened and condemned inmates (HCI) who escaped has returned.
“This is understandable because it will take a miracle for a person who knows that his execution can take place any moment, to return after his freedom was given to him freely by those who broke into the facility,” the nation reports.
The Punch also confirming this report, reported that a source said, “we now have about 85 inmates as our custody this Wednesday afternoon. We are hopeful that more inmates would return. Though the number has not been made public but I can confirm that as of this afternoon we now have about 85 inmates.
“While some returned on their own accord, others were brought by their lawyers and family members. We are very hopeful that more inmates will come back on their own. This is just a reformative centre and we hope that those of them who have turned new leaf will come back on their own.”