InsideOjodu had on Monday, April 5 reported that more than 1,800 inmates escaped the facility during an attack by suspected gunmen.

While the management of the facility disclosed that 85 out of the fleeing inmates return back, the service on Friday further released the names and faces of 36 inmates on his official twitter handle.

“Faces of persons who escaped from Owerri Custodial Centre, Imo State.
Please note that more photographs of the Escapees on the way and efforts are on to get clear pictures for the black spaces,” the tweet read.

It said efforts were on to release more names and faces of the fleeing inmates for the public to assist in their re-arrest.

The former DSS official, however, said the police and the governor, who is the chief security of the state, failed to act on the intelligence by the DSS.

Amachree stated this during his appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily today (Thursday).

InsideOjodu reported on Monday that suspected gunmen attacked the Owerri Correctional Prison in the Imo State capital and freed over 1800 inmates.

Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma has blamed the recent attacks on security facilities in the state on aggrieved politicians who aim to destabilise his government and that of President Muhammadu Buhari.

But Mr. Amachree suggested on Thursday that such attacks, especially the Monday event, could have been averted if the police were on their toes.

“There is enough actionable intelligence; actionable in the sense that it allows for space for people to execute it,” he said.

“One week ahead of this particular event and 72 hours before the event and 48 hours before the event – so three times – the Nigeria police was informed that this was going to happen.

“Some suspects that were being geolocated around the area were found surveilling the prisons and the police headquarters.

“But you know, in our lackadaisical way, when the intelligence would come, they throw it by the side, and then of course when something happens, everybody runs around.”

Mr. Amachree said the DSS could not have acted on its own intelligence because it is not “a fighting force.”

“The actionable party is actually the police,” he said. “Because when they say a particular installation or facility is under threat, then the actionable party would go ahead to correct it.

“The DSS is not a fighting force. They have a protective department that is basically responsible for the security of persons, VIPS. But when it comes to fighting, they always liaise with sister agencies, either the police or the military.”

He stressed that “some people are just lazy to do their jobs” and advised that other states should learn from Lagos State.

“Lagos, the same intelligence has been coming around and of course they have been proactive.

“If it is happening in the North-East, it could happen in Lagos. (But) Lagos itself has taken proactive steps, especially when it comes to securing correctional facilities in the state. And I think that’s what other states should follow now because they can’t sit back and wait until it happens to them.”

Osinbajo stated this while condemned the attack on the Police Headquarters in Imo State and the Owerri Correctional Centre, during a one-day visit to Owerri where he also commissioned a road project executed by the state government.

“We must, therefore, reject the agents of anarchy that are seeking to weaponize the frustration and discontent of our young people for their own profit.

“The path of violence can only lead to a disaster that consumes everyone and leads to the desolation of our communities. It is easy to take peace for granted, but we need not learn the value of peace through the horrible crucible of war.”

In a statement issued by his media aide, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo was quoted as saying that the attack does not represent the good nature of the Imo State people and the South East.

“And I call on all of us to come together to resist any attempt to turn the progress and peace that this zone is set to experience to conflict and disruption,” he added.

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.”

The authorities also stated that 35 other inmates refused to escape from custody during the prison break.

The Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Francis Enobore, confirmed this in a statement on Monday.

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.