6 Inmates Lost their lives, 10 Wounded In Abakaliki Prison Break
Speculations that inmates escaped from the Abakaliki prison during the attempted jailbreak last week
has be debunked by The Controller-General of Prisons, Ja’afaru Ahmed while disclosing that six inmates were killed and 10 were gravely injured.
The CG has in a statement issued by the Prison Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DCP O Francis Enobore, revealed that what began as a minor attempt of certain inmates to defy routine cell-search resulted to opening fire on them, hence the high casualty figures.
The Statement in part read: “Trouble started when prison officials were about to carry out routine cell-search in the morning but the inmates in a particular cell resisted the exercise. They suddenly became riotous, broke other cells and released the inmates.
“They eventually broke into the workshop to arm themselves with dangerous weapons and severely attacked some staff trapped in the yard while others made for the main gate and pulled it down.
“Interestingly, the prisons Armed Squad and men from other security agencies on guard outside the perimeter fence fired warning shots to deter the rampaging inmates, but a number of them rushed out to escape.
“The bold attempt was resisted by the combined team of armed personnel who presented what would have turned into a catastrophic security situation had the inmates succeeded in escaping.
“Regrettably, at the end of the fracas, six prisoners died and 10 others were injured. Six prison officers were severely injured. However, both staff and inmates are responding to treatment with some already discharged from the hospital,''
In a similar development, the CG has inaugurated a 3-man panel to carry out a detailed prob into the matter in order to acertain the immediate and remote root causes of the chaos.
While lauding the officers and men of Abakaliki Prisons for successfully quelling the attempted prison break and officers of other security agencies for their prompt responce in halting the jailbreak, Noting that such synergy was key in maintenance of peace, law and order in the populace.
The Prison boss, didnt hesitate to make some remarkable promises.He pledged to continue to support field officers in the daunting task of securing prisoners in safe and humane enviroment. He also affirms that reformation and rehabilitation of inmates will be in the front burner in order to check the repeated offenses among ex-convicts.
The Abakaliki prison was constructed in 1946 with an installed capacity of 387 inmates, but the last count yeilded a massive figure of 920 prisoners – of which 811 are awaiting trial inmates, leaving just 109 as convicted inmates with the ring leader spending about nine years awaiting trial. Oops!
