/ 12 September 2007

Eight inmates die in Nigerian jail-break attempt

Eight inmates of a prison in south-west Nigeria were killed in an attempted jail break, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported on Tuesday. The NAN quoted Oyo state controller of prisons Mauren Omeli as saying 14 inmates and four wardens of Agodi prison in Ibadan were also seriously injured during the attempt.

Eight inmates of a prison in south-west Nigeria were killed in an attempted jail break, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported on Tuesday.

The NAN quoted Oyo state controller of prisons Mauren Omeli as saying 14 inmates and four wardens of Agodi prison in Ibadan were also seriously injured during the attempt, which was foiled by the police.

She said trouble started around dawn when prison officials, who opened the cell to count the inmates before handing over duty to another shift, were overpowered. The inmates, armed with weapons, held the officials hostage for an hour before the police intervened.

”From preliminary reports, the inmates believed there was inadequate medical care for them,” she said.

”They thought one of them, who was hospitalised at the weekend, was dead and that was why they revolted this morning and damaged properties and attempted to escape after over-powering the officials,” she added.

The Agodi prison, built for 500 inmates, has 680 prisoners.

Incidents of riots are rampant in Nigeria’s over-crowded jail houses. Last month, at least two prison inmates were killed and 20 injured following violent clashes with wardens and police over a foiled jail break in northern city of Kano. — Sapa-AFP