Gunmen on Saturday stormed Minna Medium Prisons, freeing 270 inmates. Mallam Rabiu Shuaibu Mohammed ,public relations officer, Nigeria Prison Service, Niger state command who confirmed the attack described it as an ‘attempted jail break’.
The gunmen said to be three in number entered the prisons at 4.30 pm.They were said to have overpowered the officials and proceeded to armoury and records’ room.They made away with weapons as well.
Aside from the three men who shot their way into the prisons, some gunmen also stood in strategic positions around the prisons ,apparently giving security cover to the three who led the charge into the prison premises.
Once the armed men took control of the prisons, they set most of the inmates free.Speaking under condition of anonymity, an official said: “We had 323 inmates in our various cells but we are left with only 53 in one of the cells. Our gateman was injured, they broke into our armory and carted away weapons and bullet proof vests.
H e said further,”Where I took cover I saw Osama, one of the notorious armed robbers in the facility firing shots into the air. I want to believe his gang must have brought the gun and I saw him leading Ayo (Eze Ego), a dismissed Mopol out and other inmates.”
Niger State Police Commissioner,Mr. Emmanuel Amore has revealed after visiting the prison facility that four the escapee inmates have been caught.He also announced a manhunt for other fleeing inmates.
Prisons across the country came under attack of late .The attack on Koton-Karfi Prison as well as the Ekiti Prisons illustrate the growing failure of authorities to secure the facilities from outside attacks.Investigations are believed to have commenced into the attack on Minna prisons which came a day after a new Controller General of prisons was appointed by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Meanwhile, reports from Minna said the Toyota car which the gunmen hijacked and used to get away from the scene has been found by the police.
