Prison Officers thwarted Jail break at the Edo Custodial center

Prison Officers have thwarted an attempted jailbreak by inmates at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Ubiaja in Edo State.

The Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS), Aminu Suleman,  Edo State Command, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

He explained that the incident occurred on Wednesday following a riot after the inmates refused to return to their cells.

The statement read: “Started an unrest by refusing to return to their cells on being opened out as it is the routine practice”.

“Investigation later revealed that some hardened criminals among the inmates instigated others to riot having heard of what happened at Oko, Benin, and Owerri to effect jailbreak for possible escape.

“This led to violence, damaging of cells, the admin blocks, medical office and boring of holes on the perimeter fence in a bid to facilitate their escape from custody,” Suleman said in the statement titled, ‘Jailbreak Foiled At Ubiaja Custodial Centre’.

 “They were eventually repelled and overpowered due to the re-enforcement of armed personnel of the Correctional Service, the Police Force, Nigerian Army, NSCDC, and the DSS who were deployed to the Custodial center to ensure calm and full control of the situation.

“The situation is fully under control with the inmates returned to their cells. No life was lost but some staff and inmates sustained various degrees of injuries and no inmate escaped from custody.”

“The Controller who was at the Custodial Centre in person thanked the various sister security agencies for the effective synergy and prompt response. This he described as a clear statement to the public that there is a commitment to peace and security in the state.”

“He therefore also assures the general public of peace and calm of the various custodial centers in Edo state command.”