One person was feared dead and four other inmates allegedly escaped on Saturday during a riotous scene at the Federal Prison, Ahoada, Rivers State
Vanguard gathered that nine other inmates whose attempt to also break loose was foiled by security operatives, sustained injuries.
When contacted, State Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Ben Ugwuegbulam, confirmed the jailbreak attempt, but quickly added that no inmate escaped.
According to him, the Police, in conjunction with other security operatives, foiled the escape bid by the inmates.
He said two of the prisoners who made frantic effort to escape through the ceiling were shot.
He said: “At about 1700hrs, inmates of Federal Prison Ahoada attempted breaking out unlawfully from custody. Ahoada Police Area Command swiftly mobilised to the scene and together with other security agencies cordoned off the entire perimeter of the prison. Consequently the escaping inmates retreated to the confines of the prisons.
“Two of the inmates that tried to escape through the ceiling were shot at to prevent their escape and were fatally wounded in the process. No escape was recorded.”
Meanwhile, sources within the prison confirmed the escape of four inmates adding that nine were injured while one was killed.
The sources said trouble started on Saturday when warders returned to the prison with some of the prisoners they allegedly took out to fetch fire wood and water.
The prisoners, according to the sources, suddenly resisted effort by the warders to lock them in their cells.
In the heat of the pandemonium, the sources said, the prisoners forced the ATM cell open and this immediately triggered tension in the prison as inmates made frantic efforts to scale the fence.
The sources said the timely arrival of security operatives who shot sporadically to stop the prisoners from fleeing saved the situation.
Vanguard gathered that before the situation finally came under control, four of the prisoners had escaped, one died, while nine others reportedly sustained injuries.
Another source told Vanguard that the attempted jailbreak looked like an action the prisoners had been contemplating.
Vanguard gathered that security operatives had been put on alert in the area about a possible jailbreak plan by inmates but nobody knew when they were to strike, and that explained the timely arrival of security operatives.
Comments
Post a Comment