Prison officials injured as inmates attempt jailbreak in Bauchi

Two officials of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) in Bauchi have sustained injuries, after a riot at the facility on Friday. 

Abubakar Adam, NCS spokesperson in the state, said the riot followed an attempt by some inmates to break out of prison. 

Five of the inmates were also said to have been injured in the process. 

According to him, the police command in the state sent reinforcement to manage the situation.

He noted that the attempt was triggered by the incident in Imo, where gunmen had attacked the prison and freed over 1,000 inmates.  

He, however, maintained that none of the inmates escaped.

“There was a riot that broke out as a result of a prison officer trafficking handsets, drugs and other related items, to inmates inside the centre,” he told NAN.

“Unfortunately for the officer, intelligence caught him and in the process of investigation, the inmates got wind of the incident and broke into the store and carted away shovels, daggers and diggers.

“The inmates, who were chanting songs and slogans, broke some items inside the prison which forced the prison officials to start shooting in the air to scare them. In the melee, five inmates and two officials were injured.”

Adamu noted that the situation had been brought under control, and urged the general public to go about their normal business.

Security has been beefed up in the area, while roads leading to the correctional centre have been barricaded.

As of Thursday, 78 of those who escaped from Imo prison were said to have been found.

Meanwhile, the NCS has released names and photos of those still at large.