Authorities in Nigeria’s Nasarawa State are on high alert after 16 inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi in the early hours of August 12, 2025. The fugitives reportedly overpowered prison staff, injuring five officers — two of them critically — before breaking through the facility’s perimeter. Seven escapees have since been recaptured, while security forces continue an intensive manhunt for the remaining nine.
Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, visited the prison later that day, ordering a full investigation into the breach and warning that any staff found complicit would face severe disciplinary action. The jailbreak is the latest in a troubling series of prison escapes across Nigeria in recent years, including high-profile incidents in Suleja, Kuje, Imo, and Oyo states between 2021 and 2024. Officials are urging residents to stay vigilant and report any suspicious movements to the authorities.
