attacked the Minna Medium Prison, the
capital of Niger State, leading to the escape of
at least 270 inmates out of 323 prisoners.
This came barely 24 hours after President
Goodluck Jonathan replaced Aminu Suley,
acting Comptroller- General of Prison, with Dr.
Ezenwa Ekpendu as substantive Controller-
General of Prisons.
It was learnt the gang of 5 armed with
weapons stormed the prison and shooting
sporadically into the air at about 4:30pm
unknown to the prison officials and shot the
security guard at the gate, who is currently
receiving medical attention at the General
Hospital.
They were said to have broken into the prison
armoury and made away with some arms as
well as into the cells for the 323 inmates to
escape, except for 53, who were awaiting trial
that remained in their cell. Among them were
a pastor and an Engineer.
It was learnt that the attack by those
suspected to be armed robbers was to free
some convicted robbers and may not be
unconnected with the presence of two
notorious robbers brought to the prison some
few days ago from Kebbi and Edo states.
The two notorious robbers are simply
identified as Eze Ego, a Police Mopol officer
that was dismissed from service from Kebbi
State and the other known as Osama from
Edo State.
A resident of the area said they were afraid
when they heard gun shots for about 10
minutes that sent people running for cover
out of fear for their lives.
Another said: " I was returning home, when I
saw over 200 prisoners running towards the
road and when I got to the prison area, I
learnt that there was a jail break. I noticed
people running out of fear to hide."
Confirming the development at the prison,
the state Police Commissioner, Mr. Olusola
Amore, told journalists that the police in the
state have arrested four out of those that
escaped, of which 2 have returned to the
prison.
He also said 4 AK 47guns and a Sieana car
were recovered and currently in the custody
of the police, adding that efforts are on to
arrest the prisoners that escaped.
It was further gathered that the heads of
security agents in the state have gone to brief
the state Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida
Aliyu, on the situation.
As at the time of filing this report, additional
8 inmates from those that escaped were
caught by officials of the prison and returned
back to their cells bringing the total to 12 of
those that returned from the initial 270 that
ran away.
However, efforts by reporters to get comment
from the Assistant Comptroller General of
Prisons failed.
Posted By David Aniemeka
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