Gunmen attack Akure prison, release 175 inmates

About 175 inmates of Olokuta Medium Prison in Akure, Ondo State early Sunday escaped from the facility when gunmen numbering about 30 attacked the prison located on Ondo Road in the outskirt of the state capital.

It was gathered that the gunmen, who arrived the prison premises located few meters from the headquarters of the 32 Artillery Brigade, Owena Barracks around 12:05 a.m, started shooting sporadically.

Before they arrived the main entrance, the gunmen were said to have destroyed street lights, which led to the prison from the main road with bullets during which one of the officers on duty was hit by a stray bullet.

The gunmen were said to have broken the wall leading to the inmates cells with grenades when their attempts to blow off the main entrance failed.

All the inmates at the prison were said to have escaped with the gunmen.

Speaking with journalists, the Prison Comptroller for the state command, Mr Tunde Olayiwola, described the attack as unusual, saying the authority would soon bring the culprits to book.

He said: "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 you that those behind the attack will brought to book."

The comptroller said the attack was the first of its kind in the history of the prison, saying the prison had not experienced such an attack since its establishment.