Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, has blamed the negligence of some officers for the recent prison break at the federal correctional centre in Kogi state.

According to Tunji-Ojo, the incident was not a jail attack, but rather an insider involvement, with no walls breached.

The minister’s statement comes after about 12 inmates escaped during the early morning jailbreak on Monday. Kingsley Fanwo, Kogi state commissioner for information, confirmed the incident.

However, the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has since recaptured five of the escaped inmates.

Tunji-Ojo attributed the jailbreak to negligence on the part of some officers, adding that an investigation is ongoing. He also confirmed that about seven of the escapees have been re-arrested, thanks to improved biometric capability and collaboration with other agencies.

Governor Usman Ododo of Kogi state has directed the state’s security adviser to collaborate with the federal correctional centre and other security agencies to prevent future breaches. He assured residents that security agencies are in control of the situation.