A Nigerian man, Ola Abimbola, sentenced to 21 years for conspiracy to kidnap, GBH, blackmail, and false imprisonment, has escaped from an open prison in Sussex, UK, sparking a massive police hunt. Abimbola, 36, was transferred to Ford open prison in Arundel as part of the Labour government’s efforts to ease overcrowding in more secured facilities.
He walked out of HMP Ford on October 10, just a month after his transfer, and has not been seen since. Sussex Police have released a CCTV image of Abimbola and urged the public not to approach him, advising anyone with information to dial 999 immediately.
Abimbola’s escape has raised concerns about prison safety and security, with critics arguing that the system is putting public safety at risk. The UK government has faced criticism for transferring Abimbola to an open prison, given his serious offenses and the risk he poses to public safety.
The incident has added pressure on Justice Secretary David Lammy, following the mistaken release of two foreign sex offenders, Brahim Kaddour-Cherif and Hadush Kebatu, and British fraudster Billy Smith. Mark Drury, a member of the Prison Governors’ Association, warned of a recent rise in absconders from open prisons, noting the “increased risk to the public”.
The Ministry of Justice responded, stating that the “small number of offenders eligible for moves to open prison faced a strict, thorough risk assessment” and that anyone breaking the rules “can be immediately returned”.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has expressed anger and frustration over the incident, calling the wrongful releases “intolerable”. He defended Justice Secretary David Lammy, saying the most recent release happened before new security measures were introduced.
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