Gunmen attack Minna prison, kill 2 as 219 inmates escaped

Gunmen on Sunday night attacked the Minna Medium Security Prison, killed a ward and a commercial motorcyclist in their wake.


The attackers freed 219 prisoners during the operation which caused pandemonium within the prison community.

The Prison Public Relations Officer, DSP Rabiu Shaibu confirmed the attack saying the gunmen gained access to the prison after a shout-out with officials on duty.

He said the commercial motorcyclist conveying a prison officer to the prison met his death in the hands of the attackers, while the deceased prison officer lost his life during the shootout with the gunmen.

He said seven out of the fleeing inmates were arrested, but couldn't tell the total number that escaped.

He said the command is still doing profiling of the number of inmates that escaped.

However, the state Commissioner of Police, Dibal Yakadi, said a total of 219 inmates escaped out of which 19 were rearrested.

He said the command along with the prison authority are on the trail of the fleeing inmates with a view to re-arrest them.

He also said the command is also collaborating with other sister security agencies with a view of arresting the attackers.

He urged the general public not to panic but go about their normal business as security has been beefed up to forestall any reoccurence.