Prisoners escape as a Nigerian city prison is bombed

Prisoners escape as a Nigerian city prison is bombed


• Warders, Security agents shot

The lives of two prison warders and other security agents at the Warri Central Prisons, Warri, Delta State, hung in the balance yesterday after they were shot by prisoners who successfully staged a jail break at the medium security prison.
It was gathered that the prisoners used a bomb, suspected to be HED (homemade Explosive Device), to blast an escape hole through the Oki Street axis of the nearly-30ft-high prison wall.
Although the Controller of the prison, Chris Okoye, could not be reached for comment, a source said, “He reported hearing the blast about 5pm. He said before then there was a scuffle between some of the prisoners, which was obviously diversionary.”
He said the blast occurred in a cell holding hardened criminals, including armed robbers and kidnappers.
The explosion reportedly occurred about 5pm, during the heavy rain that fell in the city and other neighbouring towns. Residents of nearby Upper, Essi and Mission roads reported hearing heavy gunfire during the time.
Eyewitnesses said the escaped prisoners wielded sophisticated weapons, including AK-47 rifles, the source of which could not be ascertained at press time.
It was gathered that they turned the weapons on the wardens and other security agents at the scene after blowing the escape route.
The Nation learnt that scores of wardens and mobile policemen attached to the prison were seriously injured; two who were critically shot were being treated at a secret location in the oil city.
Our correspondent could not immediately ascertain at the time of this report last night the number of prisoners that successful escaped from the prison located on Okereke Road by Upper Erejuwa Junction but it was gathered that at least two inmates were yet unaccounted for.
“They blasted a hole through the prison wall and shot randomly at the warders and policemen on guard at the prison as they escaped through the leeway. Although it was not clear how they got the equipment in, the way they were used took everybody by surprise,” said a source.
Information that the masterminds had external and possible inside assistance could not be immediately confirmed as no relevant official could be reached for comment.
At the time of filing this report, a combined team of security personnel comprising soldiers, mobile and regular policemen had taken over the area, ostensibly in search of the escapees.

Shola O’Neil, Warri, The Nation