Several heavily armed gunmen stormed into the Nigeria Correctional Service prison in Jos, possibly in connection with previous attacks that have freed prisoners.
So far, minimal news is coming out of the area, with the only information coming from less than reliable news sources.
What We Know So Far – Unconfirmed
The Nigeria Correctional Center (NCoS) has reportedly announced that 252 inmates are at large after the November 28th attack on its medium security prison facility in Jos, Plateau State by gunmen who are suspected to be bandits.
Francis Enobore, the controller of corrections (otherwise known as a public relations officer), has said that one of the gunmen who ended up being trapped inside the prison facility during the attack has been killed. Enobore also noted that a member of the Nigeria Correctional Center armed squad also lost his life during the battle with the gunmen.
Nine inmates were killed during the attack, while six were injured. An additional member of the correctional service was also injured during the battle after being shot in the hand.
Enobore reports that a total of 262 inmates escaped during the attack, but ten have already been recaptured.
“The Controller-General of Corrections, Haliru Nababa condoled with the family and friends of the gallant officer who paid the ultimate price in the encounter promising that the death will not be in vain as all the perpetrators will be hunted and made to face the full wrath of the law,” Enobore said.
Thanking the officers and others who assisted in the battle for helping bring the situation under control, he assured the public of their safety while ensuring that the inmates will be safely apprehended and brought back to the prison. He also asked for help from patriotic individuals to apprehend these escaped inmates, as well as credible tips from the public.
Enobore also revealed that the gunmen had begun the battle by engaging the security personnel in a shootout prior to breaking into the prison yard.
“The Medium Security Custodial Centre in Jos, Plateau State came under attack by gunmen who reportedly stormed the facility in large number with sophisticated weapons,” he said. “The invaders were said to have arrived at the Custodial Center at about 1720hrs and immediately made for the main gate where they engaged the armed squad personnel in a gun battle before breaking into the yard.”
The prison facility is currently made up of 1,060 inmates, 560 of which are pre-trial detainees, and 500 of which are convicts.
