Hell
was let loose in the early hours of yesterday in Akure as some armed
robbers invaded Olokuta Medium Prison on Ondo Road Akure in the state
capital, freeing about 179 inmates and killing 10 travellers.
Eyewitnesses
disclosed that the robbers, about 30, and fully armed, gained access
into the prison premises around 1am after using an explosive device
suspected to be dynamite to break the prison’s wall.
The
bandits had earlier vandalized the streetlights from the highway to the
gate of the prison gate to ensure blackout during the operation.
The
development, however, caused pandemonium among the residents with the
news that the prison was attacked by members of the dreaded Boko Haram.
Some of the inmates, including condemned criminals, those awaiting
trials and others that were already serving terms, took advantage of the
situation and escaped through the various bush paths.
It
was gathered that over 100 armed robbers who have been jailed as well
as those on awaiting trial, escaped during the jail- break along with
other criminals who were also in the prison’s custody.The freeing
bandits, it was learnt, were some of the robbers terrorizing the people
of the state, arrested and prosecuted by the police and were ordered by
the courts to be remanded in the prison’s custody
After
carrying out the operation in the prisons, and while trying to escape
with their colleagues from the scene, the robbers ran into some
travellers along Ondo Road whose vehicle had a flat tyre at a point very
close to the entrance of the prison. They shot and killed 10 of the
passengers instantly, including the driver.
The robbers, after killing the occupants, waited and replaced the flat tyre with the extra before escaping with the mini bus
Speaking
with newsmen, the state’s Comptroller of Prisons, Mr. Tunde Olayiwola,
described the invasion as unusual and alien to the state. He said the
prison service will bring the culprits to book.
Olayiwola
confirmed that only one prison warder was injured in the attack, adding
that the affected officer was receiving treatment at an undisclosed
hospital.
“We
cannot specifically identify those behind the attack, but the attack 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 be brought to book.”
It
was, however, gathered that few inmates have been arrested by security
operatives as efforts were on to rearrest the fleeing inmates as
security agents were seen as early as 8.30 am yesterday combing many
brothels in the state capital.
Meanwhile,
the state police command has allayed the fear that the attack was
carried out by Boko Haram. A statement by the spokesman, Wole Ogodo,
said there was no iota of truth in the rumour that the Islamist sect was
responsible.
•After storming prison, freeing 179 criminals
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