Once more, prisoners, officials hurt in foiled Edo jailbreak

Prisoners and officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) were hurt on Wednesday in an attempted jailbreak at the Medium Security Custodial Centre Ubiaja in Edo State.

The incident happened days after a thwarted jailbreak by prisoners in Bauchi State which left many wounded.

The attempted prison break at Ubiaja also occurred days after more than 1,800 inmates escaped when gunmen attacked the Owerri prison in Imo State.

According to a statement on Friday by the representative of the NCS, Edo State Command, Aminu Suleman, inmates at Ubiaja prison on Wednesday, “started an unrest by refusing to return to their cells on being opened out as it is the routine practice”.

“Investigation later revealed that some hardened criminals among the inmates instigated others to riot having heard of what happened at Oko, Benin and Owerri to effect jail break for possible escape.

“This led to violence, damaging of cells, the admin blocks, medical office and boring of holes on the perimeter fence in a bid to facilitate their escape from custody,” Suleman disclosed in the statement named, ‘Jailbreak Foiled At Ubiaja Custodial Centre’.

In addition, the statement said, “They were eventually repelled and overpowered due to the re-enforcement of armed personnel of the Correctional Service, the Police Force, Nigerian Army, NSCDC and the DSS who were deployed to the Custodial center to ensure calm and full control of the situation.

“The situation is fully under control with the inmates returned to their cells. No life was lost but some staff and inmates sustained various degrees of injuries and no inmate escaped from custody.”

Suleman stated that the Controller of Correctional Service in the state was at the Custodial Centre in person and showed gratitude to the several fellow security organisations for the efficient collaboration and quick action.

The representative for the state command also declared that the Controller guaranteed the citizens of peace and calm of the several custodial centres in Edo State.