Many inmates are feared dead as many others were injured following a failed jailbreak attempt in Abakaliki federal prison, Ebonyi state.

Vanguard quoted unconfirmed sources as saying that more than 14 persons were killed including one prison officer.

The sources added that both the dead and the injured were taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, FETHA.

According to the report by Vanguard, trouble had begun early Thursday morning when the prisoners revolted against poor treatment by prison authorities, especially inadequate feeding in the prison.

The angry inmates reportedly started rioting inside the prison and used every object within their reach to attack prison officers and consequently injured many.

Prison officers, it was learned, returned fire for fire which resulted in the killing of several inmates while many others sustained gunshot wounds.

It was reported that a combined team of the prison officers, Nigeria police and Army quickly drafted to the scene, prevented the inmates from escaping as they had already over-powered the warders.

Soldiers and Policemen had to cordon off all roads leading to the Abakaliki prisons.

Gunshots were heard intermittently as police and soldiers try to recover a firearm allegedly snatched from one of the prison officers by the inmates.

According to the report, the inmates had already succeeded in creating an opening in the wall before anti-riot policemen arrived and heavily tear-gassed them into submission.

The Abakiliki prison is said to be located beside the Ebonyi State police headquarters, which could be the reason for the prompt intervention by the police.

Already, the Commander of the military cantonment and the state’s commissioner of Police had visited the prison area and are directing the operations to restore sanity in the prison.