Suleja Prison Escapees: 90 Recaptured, 29 Still at Large After Wall Collapse

The Nigerian Correctional Service confirmed on Thursday, June 11, 2026, that 90 of the 119 inmates who escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State, following the collapse of a perimeter wall during a rainstorm had been recaptured, with 29 suspects still at large and security agencies continuing their manhunt across the region.

Correctional Service Controller-General Sylvester Nwakuche issued an updated statement saying recapture operations were still ongoing and that the service was working closely with the Nigeria Police, Nigerian Army, Civil Defence Corps, and local vigilante groups to locate and arrest the remaining escapees. He said the facility was being repaired and that additional security measures were being implemented to prevent a recurrence.

The escape had occurred earlier in the week when heavy overnight rainfall weakened and eventually collapsed a section of the custodial centre’s perimeter wall, creating an opening through which the 119 inmates fled in the chaos that followed. The incident sparked national concern about the state of infrastructure at Nigeria’s custodial facilities and renewed calls for urgent capital investment in correctional centres across the country.

Manhunt Continues Across Niger State

Security forces said the 29 inmates still at large had evaded initial roadblocks and patrols and were believed to have scattered across multiple communities in Suleja, Minna, and surrounding areas. Police in Niger State urged residents to report any sightings of unfamiliar individuals and to avoid harbouring escapees, warning that any civilian found assisting a fugitive could face criminal prosecution.

The National Human Rights Commission had earlier noted the Suleja escape as evidence of the urgent need for prison decongestion, arguing that the overcrowding of Nigerian custodial facilities was a human rights concern as much as a security issue. The commission renewed its call for a presidential directive to fast-track the review of cases of inmates awaiting trial for minor offences, many of whom had been detained for periods far exceeding what any sentence they would receive on conviction would require.

Furthermore, the Senate said it expected the Correctional Service to present a comprehensive infrastructure assessment before the National Assembly before the end of June to identify which facilities across the country required urgent structural repairs. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association called on the Chief Justice of Nigeria to accelerate the disposal of awaiting-trial cases to ease the pressure on custodial facilities. Notably, the Suleja escape is the second major prison-related incident in Nigeria in 2026, after a fire destroyed part of a correctional facility in a southwestern state earlier in the year. Consequently, correctional infrastructure has emerged as a significant public safety concern requiring both short-term repair investment and long-term policy reform.

NDLEA Seizes N4.8bn Drug Haul in Lagos

In addition, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency announced the seizure of a drug haul valued at approximately N4.8 billion from a warehouse in the Apapa area of Lagos, describing it as one of the largest single drug seizures recorded in the state in 2026. The consignment included large quantities of heroin, cocaine, and methamphetamine. As a result, the NDLEA said it was intensifying operations at all ports and border points to disrupt the importation of illegal drugs into Nigeria.