A Nigerian man, Ola Abimbola, jailed for kidnapping, has been on the run for nearly a month after escaping from an open prison in Sussex, United Kingdom.
Abimbola, 36, was serving a 21-year sentence for conspiracy to kidnap, grievous bodily harm, blackmail, and false imprisonment.
He had been moved early to HMP Ford, an open prison in Arundel, under recently introduced rules by the Labour government aimed at easing overcrowding in higher-security facilities.
Previously, Abimbola would not have qualified for transfer to an open prison for another six years
Open prisons, also called Category D jails, have minimal security and are typically reserved for inmates nearing the end of their sentences to facilitate reintegration into society.
Due to chronic overcrowding in more secure jails, however, recent rule changes now permit certain prisoners to be transferred to open conditions earlier in their sentences.
Abimbola allegedly walked out of HMP Ford at around 8 a.m. on October 10, just a month after his transfer, and has not been seen since.
Sussex Police have been searching for him but have yet to locate him. The force has publicized the search on social media and warned the public not to approach him, urging anyone with information to call 999 immediately.
The escape has intensified pressure on Justice Secretary David Lammy, coming after the mistaken release of two foreign sex offenders, Brahim Kaddour-Cherif and Hadush Kebatu, as well as British fraudster Billy Smith.
Robert Jenrick, shadow justice secretary, said, “Kebatu and Cherif were just the tip of the iceberg. The system is in chaos under ‘Calamity’ Lammy, and the British people are being put in danger.”
Mark Drury, a member of the Prison Governors’ Association, highlighted a rise in absconders from open prisons, citing the “increased risk to the public.” He added: “There are a large number of prisoners in open prisons now we would not have considered suitable two or three years ago.”
Drury also criticized risk assessments, stating they had become “an algorithm tick box” due to “the pressure on offender management units.”
Responding to concerns, the Ministry of Justice emphasized 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.”
