At least 12 inmates escaped at the Federal Correctional Centre in Kotonkarfe, Kogi State, in the early hours of Monday.
The state’s Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, confirmed the news in a statement in Lokoja.
He described the incident as unfortunate and assured the people of the state that the government was taking steps to prevent a recurrence.
Fanwo added that the state government would work with security agencies to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident.
He said: “The theory that the inmates escaped through the tower without causing any structural damage raises serious concerns.
“This calls for a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances of the escape, arrest the fleeing inmates, and identify possible saboteurs within the system.
“There is no cause for panic. We encourage citizens to go about their daily activities as normal, knowing that the security of lives and property remains our top priority.”