Nigeria prison confirms escape of 119 inmates

The Nigeria Prisons Authority has confirmed the escape of 119 inmates from the Koton- Karfe prison located on the northern Lokoja-Abuja Road, after it was attacked on Wednesday night by unknown gunmen. Spokesperson of the Nigeria Prisons Authority in Lokoja in the north central Kogi State, Hadiza Aminu, told reporters here on Thursday, that the inmates were mostly the 120 persons awaiting trial. Those believed to be behind the attack were members of a robbery syndicate whose colleagues were among the detainees. According to her, the robbery syndicate had in the last few days written three letters to the prison authorities in Lokoja, asking for the unconditional release of their colleagues, but the request was rejected. Aminu said the attackers gained entry into the cell by blowing up the iron bars with improvised explosives before setting free their colleagues and other inmates, except one, who chose to stay back. The hoodlums were said to have thereafter trekked to a junction on the Lokoja-Abuja Road, where they snatched some vehicles from their owners to escape.