A Nigerian drug convict, Tony Obina, has been recaptured after escaping from the Kakata Central Prison in Margibi County, Liberia, in a jailbreak that has prompted a security operation across the area.
Obina was among inmates who fled the correctional facility on Sunday, September 20, after Liberia’s Ministry of Justice confirmed that a prison break had occurred.
His reported recapture came as Liberia’s Joint Security intensified efforts to locate the escapees and return them to custody.
A video circulated by West Trybe News Media showed Obina and another man being escorted back towards the correctional facility after they were found by residents.
The circumstances surrounding his capture were not immediately disclosed by Liberian authorities.
The Ministry of Justice had confirmed that an unspecified number of inmates escaped from Kakata Central Prison.
It said the Joint Security had launched an operation to locate and recapture the escapees, while the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation began reviewing prison records to establish the exact number and identities of those who fled.
The ministry said the names and other identifying details of the escapees would be released after the verification process. It appealed to residents to remain vigilant and provide information to the nearest police station or other security agencies if they sight or encounter any of the escaped inmates.
It also warned members of the public against attempting to apprehend or harbour the escapees, urging them instead to allow security agencies to handle the operation.
Although the government had yet to release an official figure, reports in the Liberian media indicated that more than 50 inmates may have escaped from the facility.
The jailbreak occurred against the backdrop of Obina’s recent conviction in a major drug-trafficking case before the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Margibi County.
A 12-member jury convicted Obina alongside two officers of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, Joe Logan and Lovette Flowers, in the case involving narcotics reportedly valued at approximately US$181,008 and more than L$63.2 million.
Obina’s conviction had led to his detention at the Kakata correctional facility before the prison break.
His reported escape and subsequent recapture have now added another development to a case that had already drawn attention because of the scale of the narcotics involved and the conviction of two drug enforcement officers alongside him.
The Ministry of Justice said the Joint Security would continue its operation until the escaped inmates were accounted for. Security authorities have appealed to residents of Kakata and surrounding communities to report any information that could assist in locating the fugitives.