This is as he stressed that the state would do everything to protect its citizens and all state and national assets.

Makinde, who stated this in a state broadcast aired on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, BCOS, Saturday night, said the government had directed the security agencies to deploy personnel to critical national assets within the state and to monitor all entrances and exit points across the state.

He urged all residents of the state to be watchful and to call the Security Emergency Number 615 in case they notice any untoward movement of persons or development, repeating the call to action, “if you see something, say something.”

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor commiserated with the families of the two slain security agents:  a corporal of the Nigerian Army attached to Operation Burst, and an Operative of the Oyo State Amotekun Corps.

The statement noted that the governor had earlier visited another Amotekun Corp, Shukurat Omoba, who was injured in the attack Abolongo attack and in critical condition at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan.

He added that the state was deploying all resources to ensure that she survives the situation, while also urging residents to join in prayers for her speedy recovery.

The governor said: “I am addressing you today to update you about recent happenings affecting the security of our state.

“Last night, security operatives responded to a distress call about a jailbreak in the Abolongo Correctional Centre, Oyo town.

“The correctional facility had been attacked with explosives, and some inmates were set free. “Our security men were ambushed. As a result, we lost two of our security agents – A corporal of the Nigerian Army attached to Operation Burst, and an Operative of the Oyo State Amotekun Corps.

“Aside from the two lives lost, we had several operatives injured. I must mention that one of our Amotekun female volunteers, Shukurat Omoba, is presently in critical condition.

“I have visited her at the hospital, and we are deploying all state resources to ensure that she survives this.

“Please, let us all join in prayer for her speedy and complete recovery.

“Although some inmates have been recovered and taken back into custody, some are still at large. All security agencies have been placed on high alert to ensure that all that escaped are rearrested and returned to custody.

“I am, therefore, using this opportunity also to put the citizens on alert. There is no better time to repeat the call to action: if you see something, please say something. These criminals would want to go to areas where they will not be easily rearrested. If you spot any unexplained strangers in your community, please call the 615-security emergency number immediately, and make a report.

“I have directed the security agencies to deploy personnel to critical national assets within the state and to monitor all entrance and exit points across the state.”

The governor equally called on residents of the state to disregard speculations making the rounds on social media about the attack, stating that the authorities had begun investigations into the matter.

“I appeal to you, the good people of Oyo State, to remain calm. We are aware of the various speculations going round especially on social media regarding the reason for this attack. I urge you all to disregard any such rumours as the authorities are still investigating the matter.

“Rest assured that we will continue to do everything we are constitutionally allowed to do to secure our state,” he added.

Recall that no fewer than 837 awaiting trial inmates escaped from the Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo Town, when suspected gunmen attacked the facility.

The facility’s Public Relations Officer, Olanrewaju Anjorin, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Ibadan.

The suspected gunmen invaded the facility on Friday at about 9.30 p.m after they used dynamite to blast the wall.

837 awaiting trial inmates were said to be set free by the attackers.

The cell housing convicts and the inmates were said not to have been vandalised.

Anjorin said that a total of 262 escaped inmates had been recaptured, while 575 were still at large.

“The invaders arrived the centre heavily armed with sophisticated weapons and after a fierce encounter with the officers on guard, they gained entrance into the yard, using dynamite to blast the wall.

“All the awaiting trial detainees were forced out of custody, the cells housing the convicts and the female inmates were not vandalised.

“Meanwhile, a total of 262 of the escapees have been recaptured leaving 575 still at large.

“Following the directives of the Controller-General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa, the State Controller, Noel Ailewon, has commenced the process of search and recapture after visiting the scene of the incident,” Anjorin said.

He said the state controller had assured the public that no effort would be spared to recapture the fleeing inmates.

According to him, the controller-general has solicited for credible intelligence to assist the security agencies in tracking down the fleeing inmates.

He said that the Abolongo, Oyo Custodial Centre was established in 2007 with a capacity of 160 inmates, but had a total population of 907 at the time of attack.

“Of this number, awaiting trial persons were 837 representing 92 per cent with just 64 convicts,” Anjorin said.

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Mr Sola Fasure, the Media Adviser to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

Fasure said that during the Kogi attack, security officers on duty which comprised of 15 soldiers, 10 police officers and 10 armed guards of the service on duty fought gallantly to repel the attack.

He said that regrettably two officers of the custodial service were yet to be accounted for while one soldier and a policeman lost their lives during the attack.

“The facility had 294 inmates as at the time of the attack, many of whom escaped after the gunmen used explosives to destroy three sides of the perimeter fence.

“Remaining 28 inmates who didn’t escape. Meanwhile, some of the inmates who escaped have also voluntarily returned to the facility this morning,” he added.

The media aide to the minister said that the Controller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service, NCOs, Haliru Nababa, was currently monitoring the situation.

Fasure added that the assessment of the Kogi facility was being taken to ascertain the extent of the damage.

“A Crisis Response Centre has been activated and a Special Taskforce mobilised to recapture escaped inmates while an Inter-Agency Security Task Force is already on the trail of the gunmen who attacked the facility.

“The public is advised to stay calm as the situation is under control.”

Fasure quoted the minister as assuring the citizenry that Nigeria’s security forces would find the attackers and bring them to justice.

“We shall leave no stone unturned to bring the inmates who escaped back to the custody. We are also putting INTERPOL on notice with their details, in case any of them attempts fleeing outside our shores.

“We urge the people, especially the communities around the custodial facility, to be vigilant and report any strange and suspicious persons or activities to the nearest law enforcement agency.

“To the fleeing inmates, escaping from lawful custody is a serious criminal offence.

“Law enforcement agencies and citizens are lawfully empowered to use all necessary means to arrest and bring you to justice.

“You should therefore, know what you are up against. You will however be eligible for mitigation if you willfully surrender yourselves at the nearest law enforcement office,” Aregbesola said.

The minister added that NCOs would not be cowed by elements seeking to compromise the security of the country, adding that the federal government would deal with the situation with absolute resolve.

Source: NAN

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