A massive jailbreak occurred at the Kakata Central Prison in Liberia on Sunday evening, September 20, 2026. The Ministry of Justice confirmed that a number of inmates had escaped from the facility and announced an ongoing search-and-recapture operation. The Joint Security of Liberia, including the Liberia National Police and the Armed Forces of Liberia, was alerted and is actively pursuing the escapees.
According to sources within the prison, the escapees were predominantly inmates housed in Block “A,” which comprises three cells. The inmates reportedly broke through sections of the prison walls, scaled the facility’s high barbed-wire perimeter fence, and fled into nearby communities. An eyewitness, Princess Garmai Barsee, saw more than 100 inmates fleeing through the prison’s main entrance and over sections of the perimeter fence.
The Kakata Central Prison, originally constructed to accommodate about 60 inmates, was holding approximately 217 sentenced prisoners and pretrial detainees at the time of the reported escape. Prison sources disclosed that the facility has been overcrowded, which may have contributed to the jailbreak. The circumstances surrounding the escape, including how the inmates breached the prison walls and perimeter security, remain unclear.
The Ministry of Justice has urged residents to remain vigilant and report information about the escapees to the nearest police station or other security authority. The public has been cautioned against attempting to apprehend the escapees themselves or harboring them. Authorities have begun recapturing some of the escapees, although the exact number apprehended remained unclear as of press time.
The Ministry of Justice said it would release the names and identifying information of the escaped inmates once the verification and reconciliation of prison records are completed. The Joint Security would provide additional information as it becomes available. The Liberia National Police, alongside other security agencies in Margibi County, has launched a manhunt for the escaped inmates.
The AFL barracks is located in the vicinity of the Kakata Central Prison, and personnel attempted to intervene and contain the situation but were reportedly overwhelmed by the number of inmates escaping. An eyewitness recounted being engulfed with fear when seeing the huge number of inmates fleeing.
Key efforts are underway to recapture the escaped inmates and restore order. Two key points include:
Key points
- The escape of over 100 inmates from the Kakata Central Prison has prompted a massive manhunt.
- The Ministry of Justice has urged residents to report information about the escapees to the nearest police station or other security authority.
- Authorities have begun recapturing some of the escapees.
