Gunmen invade Minna Prison, release 270 Inmates

A gang of armed men yesterday invaded Minna Medium Prison yard, broke
into the cells and set 270 inmates free.
Three members of the gang, wearing Jalamia (long male dress) entered
the prison at about 4:30pm when inmates are allowed out of their cell
to have a walk within the compound, they over powered prison officials
and moved into the record room, armoury room from where they carted
away weapons and bullet proof vests.
Other members of the gang stood outside to ward off any attempt to
disturb their operation which lasted about 10 minutes.
They attacked the guard on duty and he is currently receiving
treatment in an unnamed hospital in the town.
It was gathered that as soon as the three-man gang entered the
facility they started to fire gun shots into the air and ordered all
the inmates out.
A Prison official who spoke in confidence said that two notorious
armed robbers and other 268 inmates escaped with the gunmen.
He said:"We had 323 inmates in our various cells but we are left with
only 53 in one of the cells. Our gateman was injured. They broke into
our armoury and carted away weapons and bullet proof vests.
"From where I was I saw Osama, one of the notorious armed robbery
suspects in the facility firing shots into the air. I want to believe
his gang must have brought the gun and I saw him leading Ayo (Eze
Ego), a dismissed Mopol out and other inmates."
As they fled, the armed men later snatched a Honda car and escaped with it.
The Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Prison Service, Niger
State command, Mallam Rabiu Shuaibu Mohammed, confirmed the incident,
but said that it was an attempted jail break.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Emmanuel Amore, who visited the
facility directed a massive man hunt for the inmates.
Ten of the fleeing inmates had been recaptured at press time.
He also said that a Sienna Toyota and four AK47 rifles believed to
have been used by the gang were recovered.
Unknown gunmen had attacked the Ado Ekiti prison last Monday, freeing
49 inmates. One prison official was killed during the raid.
The gunmen arrived in Hilux vans shouting 'Allahu Akbar', and shooting.
On Friday, President Goodluck Jonathan fired the Comptroller General
of Prisons, Alhaji Aminu Suleh, and replaced him with Dr. Peter Ezenwa
Ekpendu.