KAKATA, Margibi County — More than 100 inmates reportedly escaped from the Kakata Central Prison on Sunday evening, triggering a massive manhunt across Kakata and surrounding communities, as the Ministry of Justice confirmed a jailbreak and announced an ongoing search-and-recapture operation.
By Yawah Y. Jaivey
In a statement issued Sunday, September 20, the Ministry of Justice confirmed that a number of inmates had escaped from the facility, while noting that the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation was still verifying prison records to establish the exact number and identities of those involved.
The ministry said the Joint Security of Liberia had been alerted and was actively pursuing the escapees.
Sources within the prison, speaking to FrontPage Africa on condition of anonymity, said the escapees were predominantly inmates housed in Block “A,” which comprises three cells.
According to the sources, the inmates broke through sections of the prison walls before scaling the facility’s high barbed-wire perimeter fence and fleeing into nearby communities.
An eyewitness, Princess Garmai Barsee, told FrontPage Africa that she saw more than 100 inmates fleeing through the prison’s main entrance and over sections of the perimeter fence.
Barsee said personnel of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) attempted to intervene and contain the situation but were reportedly overwhelmed by the number of inmates escaping.
“I was really engulfed with fear when I saw that huge number of inmates fleeing,” Barsee recounted.
The AFL barracks is located in the vicinity of the Kakata Central Prison.
Prison sources further disclosed that the facility, originally constructed to accommodate about 60 inmates, was holding approximately 217 sentenced prisoners and pretrial detainees at the time of the reported escape.
Following the breakout, officers of the Liberia National Police, alongside other security agencies in Margibi County, launched a manhunt for the escaped inmates.
Authorities have begun recapturing some of the escapees, although the exact number apprehended remained unclear as of press time.
The Ministry of Justice said it would release the names and identifying information of the escaped inmates once the verification and reconciliation of prison records are completed, appealing to the public to assist security authorities in locating those still at large.
The ministry urged residents to remain vigilant and report information about the escapees to the nearest police station or other security authority.
It also cautioned members of the public against attempting to apprehend the escapees themselves or harboring them.
The circumstances surrounding the jailbreak, including how the inmates breached the prison walls and perimeter security, remain unclear.
The Justice Ministry said the Joint Security would provide additional information as it becomes available.
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