Kogi Government has announced that 12 inmates escaped in an early morning jailbreak at the Federal Correctional Centre in Kotonkarfe area of the state.

Kogi State Information Commissioner, Kingsley Fanwo announced the jailbreak in a statement on Monday in Lokoja.

He said the inmates reportedly escaped through the towers of the correctional center.

Fanwo who described the incident as “unfortunate” assured that the government, working with security agencies, would take steps to prevent a recurrence.

He added that one of the escapees have been re-arrested one of the escapees while querying the claim on how the inmates escaped

“The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns.

“This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system,” Fanwo said.

Fanwo said Governor Usman Ododo has asked security agencies to ensure such security breaches do not happen again.

“We call on the public to report any suspicious individuals in their communities. Anyone found harbouring an escaped inmate will be held accountable,” he warned.

“There is no cause for panic. We encourage citizens to go about their daily activities as normal, knowing that the security of lives and property remains our top priority,” Fanwo added.