New Telegraph

Police, soldiers, vigilance group foil attempted jailbreak in Edo

An attempted jail break in Benin City, the Edo State capital, was yesterday foiled by a combined force of security agents at the Sapele Road Correctional Centre. There was intense gun shots at the Correctional Centre, popularly known as White House, as a combo of security details made up of the police, army, Correctional Centre armed personnel and vigilance group battle to secured the facility. Moments later, the vigilance group was seen blocking half of the ever busy Sapele Road, while motorists scampered for safety. A source simply said: “There was an attempted jail break today at the Benin prison, leading to serious shooting.

Soldiers and policemen have been drafted to the area.” During the #EndSARS riots, the Sapele Road Correctional Centre as well as the Oko, Airport Road Centre were compromised, with thousands of inmates escaping. Reacting to the development, the Controller of Corrections, Edo State Command, Felix Lawrence, has described the shootings at the Sapele Road, Benin City, Correctional Centre as “disturbance”, by some awaiting trial inmates, especially those recaptured after the jailbreak of October 2020 #EndSARS riots.

In a statement yesterday evening and endorsed by DSC Aminu S. Suleman, the Command’s Public Relations Officer said some awaiting trial inmates started protesting at the facility at about 12.30pm, resulting into confrontation between them and convicted inmates of the facility.

In the statement titled: “Disturbance at Benin Custodial Centre”, issued on behalf of the Controller of Corrections, the PRO said: “At about 12.30pm, some awaiting trial inmates especially the recaptured escapees started protest which led to a confrontation between them and the convicted inmates. Reinforcement was immediately mobilised from the State Headquarters to enforce law and order. “The situation has been completely controlled and the Custodial Centre is calm.

There was no escape of any inmates or death. “Sister security agencies have showed solidarity by drafting their men around the outer perimeter fence to compliment Correctional Service Armed Squad personnel to ensure total security of the custodial Centre. “The Controller of Corrections Felix Lawrence wishes to assure the general public that they should go about their normal business without any fear. Meanwhile, investigation into the incident has been instituted by the Controller to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the disturbance,” the statement assured.

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