Some inmates of Okaka Prisons in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Monday detonated an improvised explosive device in an attempted jail break. But six of them were said to have been rearrested even as sources near the facility say some prisoners may have escaped given the time it took for reinforcement.
Nigerian Prison authorities habitually cover up jail break attempts to save their jobs.
Mr Victor Chiabua, Controller of Nigerian Prison Command in the state, said on Monday that the incident occurred at about 9.02pm on Sunday, and denied the escape of some prisoners.
Chiabua said that the investigation revealed the six inmates detonated an explosive device in their cell.
“Investigation into the dastardly act revealed that the mastermind of the attempted escape got Improvised Explosive Device (IED) through one of his visitors. The IED was concealed in ‘blue band margarine’ butter pack.
“They put the device inside cellophane and covered it with margarine to make it look as if it was butter.
“It was a very loud bang in the prison yard which attracted the attention of the security operatives on duty.
“The prompt response by the Police, Department of State Services, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and armed squad of the Prison Service actually aborted what could have been a jailbreak.
“The response was immediate as prison armed squad with other security officers on duty advanced to the scene of explosion and the-about-to-flee inmates were arrested and kept in separate cells,” he said.
A source at the Prison, who craved anonymity, said the mastermind of the attempted break, Victor Tekekuma was awaiting trial for alleged murder and kidnapping since 2013.
The source said that although Tekekuma was rearrested, some of the inmates gained freedom from the facility before security agencies responded to the distress call by prison officials.
“In the confusion that ensued it was not possible to ascertain the number of inmates that escaped. Our men are already on the trail of the escapees but you known that given the security implication of such a security breach it will be impossible for the service to admit any escape,” the source said.