Nasarawa:
Thirteen suspects detained over serious crimes, including kidnapping and homicide, have escaped from police custody in Nasarawa State after reportedly breaking through the wall of their cell.
The jailbreak occurred in the early hours of Saturday, June 14, 2025, at about 6:30am at a Police Area Command Headquarters in the state. Sources within the force confirmed that the escapees were held by the Anti-Kidnapping and Anti-Cultism units.
Those on the run include individuals facing charges such as chain theft, kidnapping, culpable homicide, grievous bodily harm, and unlawful association. Names of the escapees include Jamilu Abdulsalam, Abdullahi Yahaya, Usman Yerima, Abba Musa, Idris Hussaini, Abu Amu, Usman Hassan, Hussaini Sani, Ibrahim Shuaibu, Hamza Abubakar, Usman Ibrahim (alias Tecno), and Abdullahi Muhammed, who was being held on a court order.
Security agencies have since launched a manhunt to re-arrest the fleeing suspects. A senior police source who spoke on condition of anonymity said, “This is a major breach. We are working round the clock to apprehend the escapees. They pose a serious threat to public safety.”
In response to the incident, key officers on duty during the jailbreak, including the Cell Record Officer, duty officer, cell guard, and the officer in charge of security rounds, have been queried and placed under investigation for negligence.
Residents of the area have expressed concern over the development, calling on authorities to step up security measures and ensure such incidents do not reoccur.
One local resident said, “If people accused of murder and kidnapping can just escape like that, then ordinary citizens are not safe. The police must not sweep this under the carpet.”
The Nasarawa State Police Command is yet to issue an official statement as of the time of filing this report.
