The Nigerian Correctional Service has replaced all staff members at Okere Prison in Warri, Delta State, following a shocking revelation that some inmates were sneaking out of the facility to commit armed robbery.
The action comes after an investigative report by Reporters exposed the involvement of prisoners in a robbery operation in Benin City, Edo State, on January 3, 2025. The assailants reportedly attacked a young man, stole valuable items, and transferred ₦4 million to an online bank account.
The case was initially reported to the Edo State Police Command, but progress was slow until a geo-analysis of the bank account used in the transaction led investigators to Udu, Delta State. The police arrested the account holder, a woman who claimed she was unaware of the crime.
She told investigators that her boyfriend, whom she met online, had asked her to open the account, saying his phone had fallen into a river. She later received instructions to withdraw and transfer large sums of money.
Further investigation traced the crime to inmates at Okere Prison. When police arrived at the facility to question the suspects, they met resistance from prison officials, who initially refused to cooperate. However, authorities managed to apprehend one inmate—who was on death row—after he confessed to his involvement in the robbery.
## **Inmates Bribing Officials for Criminal Ac
Engr. Udoka Emmanuel Chika-Dibie, Executive Assistant on Security to the Delta State Governor, confirmed the allegations, stating that corrupt prison officials accepted bribes, allowing inmates to leave the facility, commit crimes, and return unnoticed.
“Inmates left prison custody, travelled to Benin City, robbed a victim, and returned as if nothing happened,” Chika-Dibie said. “This crime was orchestrated by prisoners who had the backing of corrupt officials.”
## **Officials Resist Police Efforts**
Despite the staff replacement at Okere Prison, the new officials have reportedly refused to release three other suspects involved in the robbery. A source told *SaharaReporters* that only one of the four-man prison gang was handed over to the police, despite pressure from law enforcement.
“We refused to be intimidated by prison officials,” the source said. “This morning, under pressure, the prison officials called the police to arrest the other three suspects who were inside the prison. How can this be happening?
“Those sentenced to death are leaving the prison to rob and kidnap, then returning to live in luxury. If we do not fix this system, we have failed our generation,” the source lamented.
Another source revealed that senior officials from Asaba, Delta State’s capital, replaced the entire prison staff, but the new personnel have also refused to cooperate with the police.
## **Calls for Urgent Reform**
The revelation has sparked outrage, with calls for immediate reforms in Nigeria’s correctional system. Comrade Israel Joe, a public affairs analyst, condemned the Okere Prison authorities for their complicity.
“This situation shows a high level of corruption and compromise,” he said. “They definitely know what is going on, and we will not allow this to slide.
“If the authorities fail to act, we will mobilize for mass protests to demand justice,” he warned.
The scandal has intensified pressure on the Nigerian Correctional Service to strengthen security and eliminate corruption in the prison system. Meanwhile, the police continue their investigation, seeking justice for the victims of the shocking crime.
