- By africanheraldexpress -
Late yesterday, gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram stormed a prison in Kogi State and set its detained members free. The prison is located in Koton Karfe, Kogi State, about 100 miles from Abuja.
Security sources say that Boko Haram used bombs and guns in the attack. It used bombs to breach the main gates of the prison, while shooting sporadically, killing one prison warder.
The attack which had about 20 Boko Haram on motorcycles and a vehicle lasted about 30 minutes.
In a later press statement, the Nigeria Prisons Authority confirmed the escape of 119 inmates from the prison.
The Spokesperson of the Nigeria Prisons Authority in Lokoja, Mrs Hadiza Aminu,said that the inmates were among the 120 persons awaiting trial.
She denied reports that the prison was attacked by members of Boko Haram sect, saying that those believed to be behind the attack were members of a robbery syndicate whose colleagues were among the detainees.
The robbery syndicate had in the last few days written three letters to the prison authority in Lokoja, asking for unconditional release of their colleagues, but the request was rejected.
Residents of the area have fled their homes for fear of being attacked by the escaped Boko Haram members.
The New IGP must rearrest these boko Harams who were set free otherwise Nigeria is not safe. This is a new challenge for new IGP to start to earn respect in Nigeria. You made a promise to Nigerian people.
I thought that at least the emergence of Boko Haram ‘ll
wake up our security operatives.
But, it is like the operatives are
still cold.
It is unfurtunate. Situations like
the Boko Haram saga should have
instinctively injected alertness into
the rank and file of the police, army and other agencies.
I learnt that many of the operatives are not even trained.
Authourities collected money and
posted them out almost raw.
Please get them trained.