A dozen detainees escape Jeshwang prison

At least 14 detainees at the state correctional facility have escaped, prison officials confirmed. They are remanded prisoners who were awaiting trial. Senior prison officials are blaming the escape on negligence by officers on duty. An investigation into the prison break is ongoing. It is the third time in three years that prisoners have escaped from the facility. The Jeshwang Prison is in the outskirts of Serrekunda, about six miles outside of the capital Banjul, where the state’s central prison, Mile II is located. A murder suspect had escaped from the Mile II prison last week. Two prison wardens have been arrested in connection to the escape. Authorities say it will be difficult to trace and apprehend the runaway escapees. They did not say if a manhunt is on the way. It has been confirmed that other law enforcement agencies have been notified of the prison break. Jeshwang Prison is also the detention facility of minors. In 2018, most of those that broke out of prison were captured. Of the 23 prisoners that escaped that year, nine of them are said to be juveniles. Most prisoners at Jeshwang are jailed for possession of drugs, assault, threatening violence, housebreaking, conspiracy to commit felony and robbery.