Gunmen Release 175 Inmates In Akure

No fewer than 175 inmates were let loose Sunday as unknown gunmen attacked the Olokuta medium security prison in Akure, shooting sporadically into the air and setting off bombs in strategic places.

This is the third record of prison break this year alone, the others being Ganye Prison in Adamawa state where 127 were set free and a prisons office in Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno state, where one civilian was killed and all the inmates released.

The trend many say is worrisome.

 

Speaking to reporters shortly after the incident, the comptroller of prisons in the state, Tunde Olayiwola, said some of the inmates who escaped during the jail break have been re-arrested.

 

He confirmed that one officer was seriously injured, and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.  He did not disclose the officer’s name.

 

Altogether, at least four persons were injured in the gun battle, but nobody was reported to have been killed.

 

Olayiwola said some of his men were on the trail of the escapees, saying that those who were caught were lured through a mobile-talking device as signals were sent out immediately to the police. He however did not state how many of the prisoners were recaptured.

 

Eyitayo Jegede, the Ondo State attorney general  and  commissioner for justice after his visit to the scene described it  as pathetic and said the state government would summon the top officials of the prison.

 

“With what we are seeing here, the state government will look into the incident and if need be, we will summon all the security chiefs and top prison officers,” he said

 

A large detachment of men and two armored personnel carriers have been deployed to the prison to ensure security in the area.

 

The police have also dispelled rumours that the attack on the prison was carried out by Boko Haram insurgents.

 

No reason was however given for that position.

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