Nigeria Correctional Service, NCoS, says it has recaptured forty-eight fleeing inmates of the Owerri Custodial Centre.

The recaptured inmates escaped from the facility on Monday, when gunmen invaded it, releasing about one thousand eight hundred and forty-four inmates.

NCoS Spokesman, Francis Enobore, disclosed this in a statement, noted that peace had gradually returned to the Owerri custodial centre in Imo, following the recent invasion of the facility by bandits.

“The 48 inmates recaptured as at 1550hrs today (Wednesday) increases the number of inmates presently in custody to 84.

“This includes those that resisted the temptation to escape during the attack.

“Among the escapees, 11 were recaptured by men of the 211 Nigerian Airforce Base, Owerri while others either came back on their own volition or were returned by their relations, traditional rulers and religious leaders,” he said.

The Acting Controller General, NCoS, John Mrabure, however, charged all staff members in the command to go after the fleeing inmates and smoke them out of hiding at all cost.

Mrabure read the riot act during the interactive session with personnel attached to the custodial centre, including those at the state headquarters.

He further asked the entire body of workers to braze up to frontally resist emerging security challenges confronting the nation and, by extension, the NCoS.

Mrabure expressed profound appreciation to other security bodies in fortifying custodial centres across the county and in ‘Search and Recover’ exercise.

He equally thanked other individuals and groups for their patriotic disposition in ensuring that escapees in their custody were safely returned to the custodial centre.

The Acting Controller General appealed for more support in this regard in order to keep the dangerous offenders out of circulation and make the society safe and secure for everyone.

Earlier the Nigerian Correctional Service (NSC) has disclosed that at least 1,844 inmates were currently on the run following gunmen attacks on its correctional headquarters in Owerri, Imo State.

NSC added that of the 1,844 inmates set free by the gunmen, six have voluntarily returned to the facility to continue their jail term while 35 inmates refused to escape from custody during the attacks that occurred at about 2: 15 am on Monday in Owerri.

The correctional services, in a statement made available to newsmen by its Public Relations Officer, Francis Enobore, stated that the attackers gained entrance into the yard by using explosives to destroy the administrative block.

According to NSC, they arrived at the centre in their large number with several Hilux pick-up vans and Sienna Buses armed with sophisticated weapons and immediately engaged the security personnel on duty in a fierce gun battle.

The agency noted that after several minutes of the face-off, they overpowered the security personnel and eventually detonated the explosive to gain entrance.

NSC statement reads: “The Acting Controller-General of Corrections, John Mrabure has ordered a comprehensive investigation into the incident and in collaboration with other security organizations, commenced a search and recovery operations to recapture the fleeing inmates.

“While appealing to the good citizens of Imo State and indeed Nigerians to volunteer useful intelligence that will facilitate the recovery effort, the Ag. Controller-General wishes to assure that the security of custodial centres in the country remains sacrosanct.

“Mrabure equally directed all officers attached to custodial facilities to remain vigilant at this trying moment in our history.

“As at the last count, 6 inmates have so far voluntarily returned to the facility while 35 inmates refused to escape from custody during the attack”, it added.