Police Recapture Eight (8) Escaped Prisoners in Kakata.
The Liberia National Police and Joint Security Operatives have recaptured eight out of the forty-seven prisoners and returned to the Kakata Central Prison who escaped on Sunday, September 9, 2024.
Following the Ministry of Justice press release dated Thursday, September 12, 2024, said the public is assured that all efforts are being made to locate and recapture the rest of the thirty-nine (39) prisoners who are still on the run.
The Ministry of Justice meanwhile cautioned the public that harboring and aiding escaped prisons is a criminal offense and anyone found engaged in such an act will be arrested and prosecuted.
Recently, An acute lack of manpower at the Kakata Central Prison led to a mass jailbreak on Sunday evening, allowing over 100 inmates to escape.
The incident, which unfolded around 6 PM, has highlighted critical gaps in prison security due to an understaffed team of correctional officers.
Reports suggest that only four officers—three female and one male—were on duty when the prisoners broke through their inner cells and charged the main gate. The sheer number of inmates quickly overwhelmed the small team, enabling them to flee in large numbers without resistance.
Archie Kono, a resident near the prison, witnessed the chaos. “Around 6:30, according to him saw a large group of prisoners running out of the compound, going in different directions. Which they tried to help the officers, but couldn’t hold them back,” Kono said. He recounted a tense encounter where he attempted to stop one of the escapees. “The inmate threatened to kill me if he could not let him go.”
Mulbah Duowanah, a young eyewitness, described how the few officers on duty were helpless as the inmates broke free. “There was only one officer trying to make a phone call, but the prisoners chased him off as they forced the lock at the main gate,” Duowanah said. “The prisoners had machetes and rocks, and they were barely clothed.”
The prison Superintendent Nelson Owah refused to comment on the jailbreak, and journalists were denied access to further details. The incident has raised questions about the ability of local security forces to respond, as reports indicate that the joint security team in Margibi lacks the basic mobility needed
inadequate supervision.
With more than 100 inmates on the run and little effort being made to track them down, residents are growing increasingly alarmed at the potential danger posed by the escaped prisoners.
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