This is contained in a statement released on Monday by SA Media to the Minister of Interior, Babatunde Alao, which described the incident as "unfortunate."

The Minister of Interior, Hon. (Dr.) Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has ordered an immediate investigation into the prison break at the Koton Karfe Correctional Centre in Kogi State.

This is contained in a statement released on Monday by SA Media to the Minister of Interior, Babatunde Alao, which described the incident as "unfortunate."

Meanwhile, the minister assured the public that all escaped inmates would be recaptured using the service’s biometric database and advanced surveillance technology.

In response to the security breach, the minister directed the Acting Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Sylvester Ndidi, to visit the facility, assess the situation, and conduct a thorough audit to determine the cause of the escape.

“We are on top of the situation. Our men are on the ground in Kogi, and I have ordered a comprehensive audit,” Tunji-Ojo stated.

Earlier, SaharaReporters disclosed that a prison break took place at the Federal Correctional Centre in Kotonkarfe, Kogi State, during the early hours of Monday.

The Kogi State government estimated that at least 12 inmates broke free.

State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Kingsley Fanwo, assured citizens that the government was working closely with security operatives to determine the cause of the break and ensure the rearrest of the escaped inmates.

Fanwo described the incident as "unfortunate" and pledged that the government is taking decisive steps to prevent such incidents in the future.

This isn't the first prison break in Kogi State; in 2014, 144 prisoners escaped from the Koto-Karffi Federal Medium Security Prisons.

Fanwo 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.

Fanwo called on the “public to report any suspicious individuals in their communities”.

“Anyone found harbouring an escaped inmate will be held accountable,” he warned.