A prison officer, a motorcyclist killed and 200 inmates escaped from Minna Medium Security Prison, Niger State, when some armed criminals attacked the facility on Sunday, the prison and police authorities in the state said.
The command’s Spokesman, DSP Rabiu Shuaibu, made the confirmation in a statement on Monday.
“On Sunday, June 3, 2018, at 8:00p.m., there was a jailbreak at Minna Medium Security Prison located at Tunga area of Minna metropolis.
“The unfortunate incident was perpetrated by armed criminals who attacked the prison and gained access after exchange of gunfire with armed prison men.
“The incident led to the death of a prison officer and a motorcyclist, who conveyed a prison officer on night duty,’’ Shuaibu said.
He said that efforts of security agencies in the state led to re-arrest of seven prisoners.
According to the spokesman, the re-arrested prisoners have been returned to the prison.
He said that normalcy had returned in and around the prison, giving the assurance that security agencies were on top of the situation and working together to ensure re-capture of fleeing inmates.
Shuaibu assured members of the public of their safety, and advised them to go about their lawful businesses without fear.
“We will like to urge all law-abiding citizens to support security agencies in maintaining law and order, as security is a collective responsibility.
“We also advise citizens to report any suspicious persons or group,” he said.
Meanwhile, the state police command said on Monday that it had taken measures to ensure the arrest of the 200 prisoners that escaped from the Prison on Sunday.
Mr Dibal Yakadi, the Commissioner of Police in Niger said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna that only 19 out of the 219 prisoners that escaped were arrested.
“We are working in collaboration with other security agencies in Niger state to make sure that we re-arrest the runaway inmates.
“The police has embarked on stop and search for all vehicles and also engaged personnel on motor and foot patrol to ensure that we apprehend these inmates,’’ he said.
Yakadi also said that the command has deployed its personnel to motor parks across the state to track the escaped prisoners and appealed to the general public to assist security agencies in tracking and apprehending the escaped prisoners.
NAN recalls that armed bandits attacked the prison on Sunday killing a prison official and a motorcyclist. (NAN)