Kirikiri Inmate Convicted for Armed Robbery Caught Processing Passport, Visa While Serving
In a stunning revelation that has sparked outrage and prompted an official investigation, a convicted inmate serving a 21-year sentence for armed robbery was reportedly caught processing international travel documents while still in custody at Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos.
The inmate, identified as Haruna Ayo, was apprehended at the Nigeria Immigration Service office in FESTAC Town on May 19, 2025, where he was allegedly undergoing procedures to obtain both a Nigerian passport and a visa.
According to investigations by Punch and Prompt News, Ayo had used his access to medical appointments as a cover to leave prison grounds—a privilege granted under official escort.
Reports indicate that Ayo was one of five inmates selected for menial work duties around the residence of a senior prison official. Leveraging this limited mobility and the excuse of medical treatment, he managed to slip out to the FESTAC Immigration office, raising no suspicion until anomalies were flagged by immigration personnel.
The incident has led to the immediate suspension of two correctional officers. The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), led by spokesperson Abubakar Umar, has since launched a discreet but thorough investigation into how such a grave breach of prison protocol occurred.
“This situation points to a disturbing breakdown in prison oversight,” said one senior official who asked to remain anonymous. “There are now serious questions around who enabled this and how long it had been going on.”
The case has drawn wide attention on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where many Nigerians have condemned the apparent corruption and complicity of prison officials.
Citizens have questioned how a maximum-security inmate could navigate state institutions so freely, suggesting that this may be a symptom of broader systemic rot within the country’s correctional infrastructure.
The NCoS has promised to make its findings public once the internal probe concludes. Meanwhile, Ayo has been returned to custody, and tighter movement restrictions have reportedly been imposed within the prison pending further notice.
The incident has also reignited calls for prison reform and stricter internal controls within Nigeria’s correctional facilities.
