No
fewer than 14 inmates of the Abakaliki Prison in Ebonyi State capital, were
feared killed yesterday during a jailbreak bid.
It
was the latest in the incidents of jailbreak being witnessed across the
country, which has attracted punishment and sack of some prisons officers by
the government.
Some
inmates yesterday capitalized on the riot that broke out in the prisons to attempt
escape which the police said they foiled.
Although
the police did not confirm the death of any inmate, sources said they counted
not less than 14 bodies.
Some
prison officials and inmates were injured during the fracas which degenerated
to the point that a weapon belonging to an official was seized by the
prisoners. It took the intervention of the police to recover the gun.
It
was learnt that the trouble started when prisoners early in the morning
revolted against poor treatment and inadequate feeding.
Sources
said the angry inmates started rioting inside the prison and used every object
within their reach to attack prison officers. Many prison officials were
injured. Two of them have been hospitalized, it was learnt.
The
deaths were allegedly recorded when prison officials returned fire for the
inmates fire.
Apart
from the police, soldiers were also drafted to the prison.
Later
in the day, soldiers and policemen cordoned off all roads leading to the
prison.
Gunshots
were heard intermittently after the inmates allegedly succeeded in creating an
opening on the prison wall through which they were trying tom escape before
riot policemen arrived and tear gassed them into submission.
Because
the prison is located beside the police headquarters, it was easy for the riot
policemen to be drafted to the scene.
Commander
of Abakaliki Military Cantonment and the Commissioner of Police, Peace Ibekwe
Abdallah visited the area and directed the operations to restore sanity to the
prison. Governor Dave Umahi visited the prison later.
State
Comptroller Mrs Oputa Emilia denied knowledge of any death or snatching of
gun by inmates
She
said only three persons were injured and that angry prisoners broke part of the
fence. She said the situation was under control. A source said bodies of
those killed were secretly evacuated.
Police
spokesman George Okafor also denied that anybody was killed. He said: “There
was an attempted jailbreak and the prison officials called in the police. We
cordoned off the area and restored normalcy to the area”.
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Society