Dozens of inmates managed to escape from a maximum security prison located outside Liberia's capital city over the weekend, as confirmed by authorities on Monday. A total of 47 inmates were able to flee due to a breach in the prison's security system, according to a statement released by the Justice Ministry. The prison in question is situated in Kakata, a town positioned 55 kilometers (34 miles) northeast of Monrovia.
The Justice Ministry expressed deep concern regarding the incident and assured the public that all necessary measures are being taken to ensure the recapture of the escaped inmates. In response to the escape, the national police of the country have deployed additional officers to aid in the search for the fugitives, as stated by the ministry.
Prisons in Liberia are frequently plagued by severe overcrowding issues, with inmates often lacking access to an adequate supply of food and basic medical care. In a distressing incident last year, a prison in Monrovia faced a food shortage crisis, leading to two other prisons temporarily halting the intake of new inmates due to similar food supply issues.
Furthermore, a significant portion of the prison population in Liberia consists of individuals who are detained without undergoing a trial process. A U.N. report from November 2022 revealed that a staggering 73% of the total prison population across the nation were being held as pretrial detainees.
