Forty-seven inmates have escaped from a Liberian penitentiary

Liberia’s justice ministry announced on Monday that forty-seven inmates have fled from a maximum security prison in Margibi County, a rural region located to the east of the capital, Monrovia.

According to the ministry, early investigations indicated that the inmates were able to flee over the weekend as a result of a security system breach in the prison.

“The Ministry of Justice is deeply concerned about this incident and is taking all necessary measures to ensure the recapture of the escaped inmates,” according to a statement issued by it.

The ministry announced that additional officers had been deployed to assist in the search for the offenders. It also encouraged the public to maintain a calming demeanor and report any information that could potentially lead to their recapture.

The inmates who had fled were instructed to surrender themselves to the nearest police station or prison authorities in order to avoid facing supplementary charges.