Authorities in Liberia confirmed Monday that 47 inmates escaped from a maximum-security prison in Kakata, 55 kilometers northeast of Monrovia, over the weekend. The Justice Ministry attributed the escape to a breach in the prison’s security system and expressed deep concern, assuring that steps are being taken to recapture the fugitives. Additional police officers have been deployed to aid in the search.
Prisons in Liberia are often overcrowded and face issues like food shortages and lack of medical care. A 2022 U.N. report revealed that 73% of inmates nationwide were pretrial detainees.
