KEY POINTS
- 47 inmates escaped from a maximum-security prison in Liberia.
- The Ministry of Justice is leading an intensive manhunt for the inmates.
- Authorities are urging public cooperation to ensure the prisoners’ recapture.
47 inmates escaped from Liberia’s maximum security prison in Margibi County. This prison is located about 30 miles east of Monrovia’s capital, and now authorities are in a search for them. The daring escape was done over the weekend, and it has put the Liberian justice system on the alert.
The issue of escape was widely condemned by the Ministry of Justice in a statement issued on Monday, stressing that the escape had compromised some of the security mechanisms in the prison.
From the preliminary observations, these inmates were able to penetrate what the prison lacked despite not elaborating on the aspect.
Increased security threats and immediate action
In the aftermath of the incident, more patrolmen have been deployed in the area in a bid to look for the suspects. The government encouraged people to stay put and to inform the authorities of any strange movements that could help to apprehend the escapees.
The local police departments, along with national security forces, have launched a massive operation with full force to regain order.
Currently, prison authorities have encouraged the escapees to surrender voluntarily, although they threatened them with serious consequences if they refused to surrender themselves. These include possible new charges that may lead to additional time in prison to what they are already serving.
However, since people’s lives are endangered, the government wants to prove that it can handle the situation, and it is already working on strengthening the vulnerabilities of the prison.
Call for public cooperation
The justice ministry has also issued an appeal to local communities; anyone with information has been urged to come forward.
This provided the public with a guarantee indicating that all the tips received would be kept discreet while at the same time embracing the need for synergy between the public and the authorities. This way, officials expect to ensure they do not escape even further or harm others in society.
Escape incidents are unheard of in Liberia, especially for prisoners, but when they occur, they reveal difficulties faced by the nation’s struggling criminal justice system.
Some of the challenges faced in the nation’s prisons include overcrowding, scarcity of resources, and security complications. This latest escape has raised concerns as to what harm these inmates may cause to the rest of society in case they are not quickly apprehended.
