At least 118 inmates of the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State, in northern Nigeria, have reportedly escaped from the prison facility after a heavy downpour on Wednesday night wreaked havoc on the center.

Spokesman for Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) Adamu Duza, who confirmed the prison break to journalists on Thursday, said the downpour caused severe damage to the custodial centre’s infrastructure, including a breach in the perimeter fence, which allowed the inmates to flee.

Duza, however, noted that the the NCoS acted swiftly by activating its recapturing protocols and with the collaboration of other security agencies, were able to recapture 10 of the escaped inmates, while efforts to rearrest the remaining fleeing inmates are ongoing.

“A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday, April 24, 2024, has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centres, Suleja, Niger state, as well as surrounding buildings, destroying parts of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of 118 inmates of the facility,” the statement said.

“The service has immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms, and in conjunction with sister security agencies, has so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody, while we are in hot pursuit to recapture the rest.

“The service is not unmindful of the fact that many of its facilities were built during the colonial era and that they are old and weak. The Service is making frantic efforts to ensure that all aging facilities give way to modern ones.

“The Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Francis John, wishes to assure the public that the service is on top of the situation and that they should go about their normal businesses without fear or hindrance,” the statement added.

Duza further encouraged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or sightings of escaped inmates to the nearest security agency.

As stakeholder engagement intensifies regarding the ongoing project to amplify voices on media freedom, freedom of expression, and digital rights, more insights are emerging.

In this edition, we engage with Luapula-based Emmanuel Munsanje, the immediate past president of the Luapula Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

“I want to discuss media freedom. When we talk about media, we refer to the channels disseminating information to various sources,” Munsanje explained.

He added that: “There are ample media freedoms in Zambia.”

Munsanje defined freedom as the ability to work without constantly looking over one’s shoulder.

“In Zambia, there seems to be political will to promote media freedoms by the current regime. This political will has been evident since the President’s inaugural speech in 2021,” Munsanje noted.

He recalled that the movement for media freedom gained momentum when Prime TV reopened following the President’s inaugural speech.

Reflecting on the past regime, Munsanje observed a restricted space for media freedom.

“Previously, we could list media houses that were closed, such as Komboni Radio and Muvi TV. During that time, any media expressing divergent views faced threats of closure,” he remarked.

With the enactment of the Access to Information (ATI) law, Munsanje expressed optimism for greater media freedom.

“The media now has the opportunity to extract information without fear of closure due to the political will in favor of media houses,” he said.

However, he urged media outlets to maintain a balance between freedom of speech and respecting others’ freedoms.

“Freedom of speech is evident today, as we see individuals seemingly challenging the head of state and even ministers without repercussions,” Munsanje observed.

Regarding digital rights, he emphasized the need for strict enforcement of the Cyber Security Act.

“The digital space remains largely unregulated. Enforcement of existing laws is lacking, leading to insults and innuendos, particularly against the head of state,” he pointed out.

Munsanje expressed concern about the proliferation of cyberbullying in Zambia, leading to tragic outcomes such as suicide.

“Social media has become a platform for both educated and uneducated individuals to abuse the digital space,” he lamented.

This story is sponsored content from Zambia Monitor’s Project Aliyense.