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The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) has dismissed recent claims of a jailbreak at the Benin Custodial Centre in Edo State, calling the reports completely unfounded.
In a statement released on Tuesday, January 27, the Service’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Correction JIN Osuji, clarified that rumours of an escape, which began circulating on January 24, are false.
According to the initial reports, three inmates—two convicted of fraud and one linked to the 2020 #EndSARS protests—allegedly escaped from the facility on Friday, January 16, 2026.
However, Osuji emphasized that there has been no jailbreak, no inmate escape, and no security breach at any custodial centre in Benin City or elsewhere in Edo State.
“Comprehensive checks and verifications conducted by the Edo State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service confirm that all inmates are fully accounted for, and custodial operations across the State remain secure, stable, and under effective control,” the statement read.
The NCoS reassured the public, especially residents of Benin City and Edo State, that all custodial facilities are secure and that there is no threat to public safety. The Service also reaffirmed its commitment to the safe custody, security, and rehabilitation of inmates across the state.
