No fewer than 175 inmates of the Olokuta
Maximum Security Prison in Akure, the Ondo
State capital, have been set free in an
unprecedented attack on the facility.
The attack, which took place at about 12.05
am, was launched by a gang of unknown
gunmen.
The gunmen shot dead two civilians and used
explosives to break into the prison.
They shot sporadically into the air to scare
away prison officials before breaking the walls
of the facility.
They reportedly entered the prison yard after
breaking the keys.
“The unknown gunmen numbering over 20
came at about midnight into the Olokuta
prison through the main gate after using
dynamite,” Prison Comptroller Tunde Olayiwola
told Reuters.
“The gunmen shot and killed two people while
trying to get in … Some of the escaped
prisoners have been re-arrested,” Olayiwola
said, adding that some prison staff were
injured in a gun battle and were receiving
treatment.
The gunmen were said to have attempted to
dismantle the main gate into the prison, but
were unsuccessful. They then blew off the wall
leading into the cells.
It was learnt that one prison official was hit by
a bullet. All the inmates at the prison were set
free.
Olokuta Prison, which is about one kilometre
to the headquarters of the 32 Artillery Brigade
of the Nigerian Army, Owena Barracks was
reportedly riddled with bullets.
The prison was established in 1989. It was
built to accommodate 150 inmates. But at the
time of the attack it had about 1,000
prisoners.
The state prison comptroller, Mr. Tunde
Olayiwola, described the attack as unusual,
stressing that the prison authority would arrest
and prosecute the culprits.
He ruled out the possibility of the dreaded
Islamic sect, Boko Haram being the
masterminds of the attack, saying the incident
happened around 12: 05 am.
“We cannot specifically identify those behind
the attack, but the incident is unusual. One of
our officers was injured during the attack and
he is in the hospital right now receiving
treatment, but I am assuring that those behind
the attack will brought to book,” Olayiwola
maintained.
The comptroller said the attack was the first of
its kind in the history of the prison.
Unconfirmed reports said some of the
prisoners who were set free by the hoodlums
has been arrested by security agents.
Commissioner of Police, Patrick Dokumo and
some top government officials have reportedly
visited the prison.
Police spokesman Wole Ogodo confirmed the
incident, maintaining that it had no link with
Boko Haram.
He said: “This incident has nothing to do with
terrorism. People shouldcontinue with their
normal duties. The police will continue to
protect lives and properties.”
Ogodo urged anybody with information on the
incident to give it to the police, pledging that
such will be treated with utmost
confidentiality.
According to him, all security agents are
working to track down the culprits for
prosecution.
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