News
JUST IN: 119 Inmates Escape As Rainstorm Destroys Suleja Correctional Centre Fence
It’s unfortunate that 119 inmates have escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State, due to the havoc caused by a rainstorm. The damage to a part of the facility enabled their escape. This situation highlights the vulnerability of prison facilities during natural disasters and the importance of robust infrastructure to prevent such incidents. Authorities will undoubtedly be working to apprehend the escaped inmates and ensure the safety of the public.
The Deputy Superintendent of Corrections Command Public Relations Officer, AS Duza, stated on Thursday morning that a heavy downpour on the night of Wednesday, April 24, 2024, wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State. This resulted in the destruction of a part of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, allowing 119 inmates to escape. Efforts have been intensified to recapture the escaped inmates, with 10 of them already retaken into custody. Duza also mentioned ongoing efforts to modernize and upgrade custodial facilities across Nigeria, with the construction of new centers and renovation of existing ones.
The heavy rain damaged parts of the building, particularly the perimeter fence protecting one of the cells where inmates were housed. Babangida Turaki, a resident of Suleja, reported that a part of the fence, which was undergoing repairs, was brought down by the rain. Security reinforcements managed to return some of the escaping prisoners, and efforts were underway to locate and arrest the remaining escapees.
Despite the incident, normalcy has returned to Suleja town, with a continued search operation to recover the remaining prisoners.
This escape incident occurred as the Federal Government is stepping up efforts to decongest correctional centers across the country. Plans were announced in November to release 4,068 inmates nationwide, particularly focusing on indigent inmates who cannot afford to pay their fines. The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, stated that the government has allocated N585 million for the payment of fines to secure the release of these inmates.
….as FG starts two-week Kara Bridge repairs tomorrow
Motorists face severe traffic disruptions on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway starting Tuesday as the Federal Government begins a two-week repair of the Kara Bridge.
The Federal Ministry of Works has scheduled the rehabilitation works to commence tomorrow, with the project expected to last 14 days. The repairs aim to address structural issues on the critical bridge, a major link for commuters and heavy-duty vehicles between Lagos and Ogun states.
Authorities have advised road users to explore alternative routes or adjust travel times to avoid prolonged delays during the construction period. Traffic management measures are expected to be put in place, though details on lane closures or diversions have yet to be fully released.
News
FG announces two-week traffic delays on Kara–Berger Bridge for repairs
The TRACE Acting Commander, Mr A. Ojerinde, stated that a multi-agency operation including TRACE, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, and the Nigeria Police Force will be deployed along the corridor to enforce traffic control.
THE Federal Government has alerts motorists and commuters on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway of possible travel delays, starting Tuesday September 8 for two weeks repair works on the Kara–Berger Bridge
The project, earlier slated to commence in August 2026, was suspended for traffic review following public outcry over short notice and the need for effective traffic management.
The two-week rehabilitation project, directed by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, involves the replacement of deteriorating expansion joints to improve road safety, structural integrity, and long-term traffic flow on the busy corridor.
The project is expected to run through September 22, 2026.
The Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency, TRACE, alongside the Federal Ministry of Works and key stakeholders, in a statement, warned motorists to prepare for lane restrictions, particularly during peak commuting hours.
The TRACE Acting Commander, Mr A. Ojerinde, stated that a multi-agency operation including TRACE, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, and the Nigeria Police Force will be deployed along the corridor to enforce traffic control.
Ojerinde, who urged road users to plan ahead, said “Leave earlier than usual to accommodate expected travel delays.
A new documentary on the life and political struggle of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola is set to premiere in Nigerian cinemas in October.
Titled MKO, the 108-minute film is directed by Ose Oyamendan and produced with American documentary filmmaker Mark Jonathan Harris. It explores the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as free and fair, Abiola’s subsequent detention, and the controversial circumstances surrounding his death in custody in 1998.
The documentary features interviews with key figures including former military rulers Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Abiola’s running mate Baba Gana Kingibe, members of the Abiola family, journalists, and diplomats.
Oyamendan, who worked as a young journalist during the June 12 crisis, has described the film as an investigative documentary that examines Nigeria’s unfinished democratic journey. It had its world premiere earlier this year at the Sheffield DocFest in the United Kingdom.
The Nigerian cinema release is scheduled for early October, with some reports linking the premiere to Independence Day on October 1.
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