The Keffi Medium Security Correctional Centre in Nasarawa State has become a focal point for discussions on overcrowding, inmate welfare, and security concerns, following a recent jailbreak on Tuesday, where 16 inmates escaped the facility.
Although seven of the escapees have been recaptured, a manhunt continues for the remaining nine. This alarming incident has highlighted the urgent need to address systemic issues within the correctional facility, as Governor Abdullahi Sule pointed out during a visit to the centre on Wednesday.
Governor Sule, accompanied by senior government officials and Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) officers, conducted a thorough inspection of the facility, which is situated in the Keffi Local Government Area. During the visit, the governor noted that the Keffi Correctional Centre is facing severe overcrowding.
According to the NCoS, a significant portion of the inmates awaiting trial are individuals whose cases are being processed in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. This jurisdictional mismatch has added to the strain on the facility, as many awaiting trial in Keffi do not even belong to Nasarawa State.
Governor Sule observed that, despite the overcrowding, the inmates’ living conditions were far from ideal, with many of them sitting on bare floors due to inadequate bedding.
In addition, he announced a donation of one million naira for the upkeep of the detainees.
“I was deeply concerned to see that many of the inmates are sitting on the floor, lacking the basic necessities for a humane existence,” the governor stated. As a response to the immediate crisis, Sule directed that 500 mattresses be supplied to the centre in order to improve the conditions for the inmates.
But Keffi’s crisis is not unique. According to World Prison Brief Nigeria; Correctional facilities across Nigeria are buckling under the weight of overcrowding and slow justice delivery. Data shows that as of July 26, 2021, the nation’s prisons had an official capacity of 50,153 inmates but were holding 70,797 at a 136.7 percent occupancy rate.
More recent figures suggest the problem is getting worse. By February 2025, the total inmate population had risen to about 81,406, while official capacity remained unchanged, pushing the occupancy rate to roughly 162 per cent The bulk of this population is made up of people still awaiting trial. According to the Global Prison Trends 2023 report by Penal Reform International, more than 65 per cent of inmates in Nigeria had not been convicted as of early August 2025.
The governor’s visit also touched on the root causes behind the jailbreak. He emphasized that while security improvements were needed, the underlying factors such as inmate welfare and building conditions should not be overlooked.
Governor Sule stated, “It is not just the issue of security that led to this jailbreak, but also the grievances among the inmates due to their poor conditions.”
Prison escapes have continued to trouble Nigeria’s correctional system despite efforts to tighten security. Data reviewed by Premium Times shows that between 2015 and 2022, there were at least 20 recorded attacks on custodial facilities nationwide, with causes ranging from overcrowded cells and delayed trials to poor infrastructure and low staff morale.
One notorious case happened in December 2021 at the Koton-Karfe facility in Kogi State. Floodwaters damaged the prison walls, creating an escape route for dozens of inmates, a stark example of how weak infrastructure fuels the problem.
Also, in April 2024, heavy rains caused a section of the perimeter wall at the Suleja Medium Security Custodial Centre in Niger State to collapse, allowing 118 inmates to escape. Security analysts linked the incident to overcrowding, ageing facilities, and slow justice delivery.
The trend persisted into March 2025, when 12 inmates broke out of the Kotonkarfe Correctional Centre in Kogi State. Authorities have since launched a manhunt to recapture the escapees (ICIR Nigeria).
In the case of the Keffi Medium Security Correctional Centre, it is noteworthy that many inmates are awaiting trial at courts in Abuja, a considerable distance from the correctional centre. Governor Sule has expressed the state government’s intention to partner with the relevant authorities in the FCT to fast-track the trials of these inmates.
“We are committed to working with the FCT officials to expedite the trials and reduce the backlog,” the governor remarked.
Governor Sule’s statement suggests that the Nasarawa State government is keen on collaborating with both the FCT judiciary and the Attorney General of the Federation to explore ways to alleviate the pressure on the Keffi correctional facility. This cooperation aims to address not only the issue of overcrowding but also the inefficiencies in the justice system that have led to prolonged periods of detention for many awaiting trial.
Statistics reveal the alarming number of inmates in Nigeria’s prison system who are awaiting trial, underscoring the challenges faced by the country’s judicial process.
As of August 2025, the World Prison Brief reports that 65.2% of Nigeria’s prison population is still awaiting trial, based on data from the International Centre for Prison Studies. This is a significant portion of the 81,400 total inmates in the country, highlighting a slow judicial process that affects a large number of detainees.
Intelpoint Intelligence, in a March 2025 report, stated that 66.6% of Nigeria’s inmates were awaiting trial. This research further illustrates the widespread issue and calls attention to the urgency of addressing the inefficiencies within the judicial system.
Additionally, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) reported in January 2025 that over 60% of inmates in the country were still awaiting trial, a figure that has remained a concern for law enforcement and justice reform advocates.
Governor Sule has already taken the first step by directing the state’s chief judge to liaise with his counterpart in the FCT.
“Through this partnership, we hope to resolve the issue and make a lasting impact on the decongestion of our prisons,” he added.
While it is evident that improving conditions for inmates and expediting trials are critical, Governor Sule also acknowledged the necessity of strengthening the security infrastructure at the facility. Following the escape of 16 inmates, the governor pointed out that while there was a need for more robust security measures, it was important to address inmate welfare issues to prevent future jailbreaks.
“It is not only about tightening security; we must also address the underlying frustrations of the inmates, as their grievances may be contributing to such incidents,” he said.
The Keffi incident reflects a bigger problem in Nigeria’s correctional system: chronic overcrowding and weak rehabilitation structures.
Many facilities across the country hold far more inmates than they were built for, limiting access to education, skills training, and other programmes that could help inmates reintegrate into society.
A February 2025 study published in the Global Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences found that the high inmate-to-staff ratio in Nigerian prisons severely restricts rehabilitation services such as vocational training and counselling, with overcrowding undermining their overall effectiveness (Global Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, February 2025, eajournals.org).
International observers have raised similar concerns. Penal Reform International notes that Nigeria’s excessive use of pre-trial detention and imprisonment for minor offences fuels prison congestion, which in turn reduces opportunities for education, vocational skills training, and recreational activities that are vital for rehabilitation.
Experts agree that addressing the crisis will require more than just tighter security. Expanding vocational training, upgrading infrastructure, and adopting non-custodial sentencing for minor offences are seen as critical to reducing overcrowding and improving inmate rehabilitation.
Unless Nigeria tackles the twin crises of overcrowding, rehabilitation and slow justice head-on, facilities like Keffi will remain not just prisons, but pressure cookers waiting for the next jailbreak.
