The Nation Newspaper

Tag: prison break

  • Two dead, 200 escape in Niger prison break

    Gunmen on Sunday night attacked the Minna Medium Security Prison in Kafin-Tella B, Tunga Local Government Area of Niger State.

    A warden and motorcyclist were killed.

    The attack happened about 8pm during a heavy rainfall.

    The warden, identified as Shekarau, was said to be reporting for duty when the gunmen struck. He was killed with the motorcyclist who dropped him at the prison gate.

    The prison’s spokesman, Rabiu Shuiabu, said the gunmen entered into the prison after exchanging fire with armed security men.

    Shuiabu said 19 inmates who escaped have been rearrested.

    He said: “The prison authority in Minna is profiling inmates to ascertain the number of escapees.

    “However, normalcy has returned and security agencies are working to ensure that fleeing inmates are recaptured.”

    The Nation gathered that 16 prisoners returned voluntarily.

    Community sources said the gunmen ordered everyone to go into their houses.

    Mohammed Umar, who lives close to the prison, said: “The gunmen came about 7.45pm in a Hilux van, a Honda Civic and Golf, and ordered everybody to go inside.

    “There may have been more but those were the ones I saw. After we were ordered in, Shekarau came with a bike and they started with him.

    “The shooting went on for more than one hour and we were very scared. Everywhere was shaking; it was difficult to identify the kind of guns they were using because it was of different sounds, some sounded like thunder. Even after the shooting, nobody could come out.”

    Umar added that after the incident, some of the prisoners returned, saying they ran away to avoid death.

    Commissioner of Police Dibal Yakadi said the 200 who escaped would be arrested.

    Yakadi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN): “We are working with other security agencies to ensure that the runaway inmates are re-arrested.

    “There is stop and search of vehicles, motor and foot patrols to ensure that we apprehend these inmates.”

  • Prison Break: Two killed as gunmen attack Niger prison

    ….10 escapees rearrested

     

    Unknown gunmen on Sunday night attacked the Minna Medium Security Prison killing a Prison Warden and a motorcycle driver.

    The attack which occurred about 8pm lasted for more than one hour during a heavy downpour of rain.

    The Prison Warden identified as Shekarau was said to be reporting for night duty when the gunmen struck, he was killed along with the motorcycle driver who dropped him at the entrance of the prisons gate.

    A visit by The Nation to the prison showed the fresh blood stains in the spot where the deceased were killed.

    The Prisons Public Relations Officer (PRO), Rabiu Shuiabu disclosed that the gunmen attacked the prison and gained access after exchange of fire with prison armed men.

    He disclosed that 10 escapees have been rearrested but refused to give details of the number of prisoners who were in the prisons before the prison break or those at large.

    “The Prison authority in Minna is profiling the number of fleeing inmates to ascertain the escaped prisoners. However, normalcy has returned and security agencies are working together to ensure that fleeing inmates are recaptured.”

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    The Nation gathered that 16 prisoners returned on their own after the attack.

    Speaking to some community dwellers in Kafin -Tella B in Tunga area, it was learnt that the gunmen had arrived earlier before the attack as they told everyone to go into their houses.

    Mohammed Umar, one of the people living close to the prison said that the gunmen came at about 7.45pm and ordered everybody to go inside telling them that if they did not obey, they will not be blamed for any death.

    “They were divided into many groups and they came in a Hilux van, a Honda Civic and Golf. There may have been more but those were the ones I saw.

    “Immediately after we were ordered in, Shekarau came with a bike and they started with him. The shooting went on for more than one hour. We were very scared. Everywhere was shaking; it was difficult to identify the kind of gun they were using because it was of different sounds, some sounded like thunder.

    “It was if they were shooting outside my door. We all hid ourselves; nobody dared to come out even after the shooting stopped. ”

    Umar then disclosed that after the incident, some of the prisoners returned disclosing that they that the returnees explained that they had to run away in order for them not to be killed by the gunmen.

    The Niger state Governor and the Minister of Interior are expected to visit the prison.

     

  • Indonesia to investigate officials, guards over massive prison break

    Indonesia Minister of Legal and Human Rights Minister Yasonna Laoly on Monday ordered a probe of officials overseeing a Sumatra’s Riau province prison where inmates massively broke out due to alleged illicit practices, including extortions.

    Laoly said his office has repeatedly warned against prison guards to stop extortion practices in prison.

    He told newsmen during inspection to the Sialang Bungkuk prison in the province’s capital that saw 448 of its inmates recently escaped.

    “Now those who committed extortions must receive criminal charges.

    “Police must investigate them,’’ the minister said.

    Head of the prison was dismissed on Saturday following the riot in the prison that led to the massive escape of inmates after they broke out through the prison’s main gate on Friday.

    Head of the ministry’s provincial office Ferdinan Siagian said thorough investigation into the extortion allegation would be conducted to prevent similar event reoccur in the future.

    As of Monday provincial police chief said the authorities have recaptured 296 of the escaped inmates.

    However, further pursuit against the remaining 152 inmates is still underway.

    Besides alleged rampant extortion conducted by prison guards against the inmates and their families, Pekanbaru Major Edwar Sanger said prison overcrowding was also a catalyst of the incident.

    “The prison capacity was actually for 400 inmates, but now it is inhabited by over 1,800 inmates,” he said, adding that the other factor was the troubled clean water supply for the inmates.

    Families of inmates imprisoned in the Sialang Bungkuk prison said discrimination, extortion and other illicit practices rampantly persisted in the prison.

    Yusti, whose son was imprisoned in the prison, had to pay 7 million rupiah (about 525 dollars) to the prison guards to have his son moved to a cell in the second floor for corruption case inmates where he belongs to.

    Another parent had to pay a sum of money to extend his visiting time to see his son in the prison.

    The guards have special bell code to notify the other guards that he already paid the money for the visit extension time.

    “We already had enough with all of these extortions, but we cannot do anything but to pay them because our sons are inside.

    “Now everything must be revealed,’’ the 65 year-old Yusti said as quoted by a local media on Saturday.

  • 10 killed in Cote I’voire prison break

    No fewer than 10 people were killed in an attempted jail break in Abijan, Cote d’Ivoire capital city, authorities said on Monday.

    The incident occurred after inmates, who had obtained firearms, tried in a failed escape attempt to break jail.

    The deceased included nine prisoners and one guard killed during sporadic gunshots, prosecutor general Aly Yeo told newsmen.

    ‘’The breakout bid at the MACA prison, began on Saturday when prisoners opened fire on guards,’’ Yeo said

    He said that the incident was brought under control by Sunday.