Edo, officially known as Edo State, is a state in the South-South geopolitical zone of the federal republic of Nigeria. As of 2024, the state was ranked as the 22nd most populous state (5,250,000) in Nigeria. The estimated state population is around 4,777,000 in 2022. Edo State is the 22nd largest state by landmass in Nigeria. The state's capital and largest city, Benin City, is the fourth largest city in Nigeria, and the centre of the country's rubber industry. Created in 1991 from the former Bendel State, it is also known as the heart beat of the nation. Edo State borders Kogi State to the north for 133 km and across the Niger River for 81 km to the northeast, Anambra State to the east for about four km across the Niger River, Delta State to the southeast and south for 350 km, and Ondo State to the west.
The United States Penitentiary, Florence High is a high-security United States federal prison for male inmates in Colorado. It is operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a division of the United States Department of Justice. USP Florence High is part of the Federal Correctional Complex, Florence, which is situated on 49 acres (20 ha) of land and houses different facilities with varying degrees of security. It is named "Florence High" in order to differentiate it from the United States Penitentiary, Florence ADMAX, the federal supermax prison located in the same complex.
Boko Haram, officially known as Jamā'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihād, is an Islamist jihadist organization based in northeastern Nigeria, which is also active in Chad, Niger, northern Cameroon, and Mali. In 2016, the group split, resulting in the emergence of a hostile faction known as the Islamic State's West Africa Province.
The Bauchi Prison break was an attack on the federal prison in the North-Eastern Nigerian city of Bauchi, in which members of Boko Haram released 721 prisoners. The attack occurred on 7 September 2010, and was carried out by approximately 50 gunmen. Of the 721 prisoners who escaped, as many as 150 were affiliated with the terrorist group Boko Haram. The Bauchi prison break was part of a broader escalation of Boko Haram activity, that escalation served as retaliation for the death of one of the group's primary leaders. Following this, Boko Haram has staged multiple subsequent attacks on government and religious targets in Bauchi state.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), formerly known as Nigerian Prison Service (NPS), is a government agency of Nigeria which operates prisons. The agency is headquartered in Abuja, and it is under the supervision of the Ministry of the Interior and the Civil Defence Immigration and Correctional Service. The name was changed from the Nigerian Prisons Service to the Nigerian Correctional Service by President Muhammadu Buhari on 15 August 2019 after signing the Nigerian Correctional Service Act of 2019 into law. The bill was passed by the 8th Assembly of the House of Representatives but the signing was done two months after their tenure had expired. The law divides the Correctional Service into two main areas which are The Custodial Service and Non-custodial Service.
The Ekiti prison break was an attack on the federal prison at Afao road, Ado Ekiti in the southwestern Nigerian city of Ekiti State by 60 unknown gunmen. The attack occurred on 30 November 2014. 341 prisoners escaped from the prison leaving 1 warder and 20 sniffer dogs dead. The escaped prisoners were largely awaiting trial. 10 inmates who attempted to escape were captured during the attack at gunfire exchange between the policemen and the gunmen. 67 inmates were rearrested after the attack and 274 inmates escaped. One inmate, who claimed to have run away when he heard gunshots, returned to the prison to serve out his short sentence.
The Minna prison break was an attack on Minna medium prison, Minna in the northwestern Nigerian city of Niger State by three unknown gunmen suspected to be armed robbers. The attack occurred on 6 December 2014. 270 prisoners escaped from the prison leaving a security officer injured. The escaped prisoners were largely gangs of armed robbers, awaiting trial. It was reported that one of the notorious armed robbers in the prison called Osama took part in the jail break.
The Kogi prison break was an attack on Koto-Karffi Federal Medium Security Prisons in Kogi State, in north-central Nigeria by unknown gunmen suspected to be members of the terrorist group, Boko Haram. The attack occurred on 2 November 2014. About 144 prisoners escaped from the prison; 1 inmate was shot and killed during the attack. The escaped prisoners were largely awaiting trial for robbery. Twelve inmates returned to the prison to serve out their sentences and about 45 escaped prisoners were recaptured altogether.
The Lagos Prison Break occurred on October 10, 2014, when five persons escaped from the Kirikiri Medium Prison.
The Ondo prison break was an attack on the Olokuta Medium Security Prison in Akure, the capital of Ondo State, Nigeria, by 50 unknown gunmen suspected to be armed robbers. The attack occurred on 30 June 2013. About 175 prisoners escaped from the prison leaving 2 people dead and 1 warder injured. The escaped prisoners were largely awaiting trial for robbery. About 54 escaped inmates were rearrested after the attack and about 121 inmates escaped.
A prison break is an unlawful act under Nigerian law involving a prisoner escaping or forcing their way out of a prison. Prison breaks in Nigeria are also often the result of attacks on the Nigerian Correctional Service facilities by terrorist groups, including Boko Haram, or armed robbers, leading to the release of inmates. Efforts to recapture escaped inmates are typically coordinated by the Nigerian Correctional Service in conjunction with other security agencies. Escaped inmates, once apprehended, often face extended prison sentences.
The Agodi prison break was an attack on the Agodi Minimum Security Prison in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, Nigeria by condemned criminals. It was reported that about eight inmates died in the attempt leaving eighteen others injured.
The Damaturu prison break was an attack on the Jimeta prison at Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State in the northeastern Nigeria by 40 gunmen suspected to be members of the terrorist group Boko Haram. The attack is thought to have been a bid to rescue imprisoned members of Boko Haram. About 40 prisoners escaped from the prison; seven inmates and one prison warden died. The escaped prisoners were largely members of the insurgent.
Taliban militants, wearing Afghan army uniform, stormed a prison outside the city of Ghazni in Afghanistan on 14 September 2015, freeing more than 355 inmates. At least 148 of the escapees were considered to be a serious threat to national security. According to the Afghan Ministry of Interior, of the inmates who escaped, 148 had been jailed for attacks on security forces, while 207 had been convicted for other crimes. Only three prisoners had been recaptured.
On 29 July 2013, terrorists attacked on Dera Ismail Khan's central prison and freed more than 240 criminals including 35 high-profile terrorists. Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan claimed responsibility of attack.
The Eastern Security Network (ESN) is the paramilitary organization of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a pro-Biafra separatist movement.
The Owerri prison break took place in the early hours of 5 April 2021, when a mass prison break occurred in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. A large armed group arrived in pickup trucks and on buses carrying rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and rifles. The group entered the prison's yard by using explosives to break through the administrative block. The group released over 1,844 inmates from the jail.
On July 5, 2022, the Islamic State launched a coordinated attack on Kuje prison, near the Nigerian capital of Abuja. The attack killed five people and freed 879 inmates, although almost half were recaptured in the following days.
