By Uche Amunike
In a bid to fight situations like the recent Oyo prison break, Gov Seyi Makinde of Oyo state, Sunday, has instructed that Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras be installed in every correctional facility in the state.
Speaking, while inspecting damages done at the Abalongo Correctional Centre, where the prison break occured, Makinde appealed to the general public, especially residents of the state to remain calm.
Recall that the correctional centre was attacked on Friday night by unknown gunmen and majority of the inmates escaped.
Governor Makinde, who was on an inspection tour with top government functionaries in the state reflected that his government will take immediate measures to see that the facility is protected and also that the major road leading to the place is immediately graded.
He expressed his shock at the events of Friday night, while confirming that a soldier and an Amotekun operative died during the fracas, while another person was on the danger list at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, as it were.
He posited that investigation was still ongoing which is why it is too early to address the Oyo Prison break as an isolated event or the beginning of a bigger issue that has to be dealt with.
He stressed that his government has made an assessment of the situation and taken some immediate decisions, stating that the country currently faces the challenges of banditry, terrorism and insurgency and that his government can only deal with the issues, when they have the people giving them cooperation in doing what they’re trying to do.
He pleaded with the general public to have faith in the government and always believe that they will always tell them the exact situation of things at the right time.
He stated that his government was making a list of important state assets that need to be monitored and has also asked that the entrance and exit points into the state be also monitored.
The Oyo prison break, according to him, has left the state with almost 300 criminals that are still on the loose, but he assured that the government will continue to put efforts in trying to apprehend the criminals and return them to the facility.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola also visited the facility and promised that all the inmates on the loose will be captured and sent back to the correctional centre.
He also stated that he has given directives for remediation work to rebuild the damaged part of the facility to commence immediately.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi 111 also paid a visit to the correctional centre.
On his part, the Alaafin, who was received by senior officials of the Service was guided round the premises on a facility tour to view the level of damage done by the perpetrators of the Oyo prison break.
He pleaded that residents should remain calm and be patient as the government was doing everything within their power to salvage the situation.
