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 walls of the prison were equally riddled with

bullets.


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

was unsuccessful.


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.


Olayiwola said the incident happened around 12: 05 a.m. just as he

dispelled the rumour that the attack was masterminded by the Boko

Haram sect.


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.


However, unconfirmed report said some of the prisoners, who were set

free by the assailants have already been arrested by security agents

in the state.


It was gathered that some of the prisoners were picked by the security

agents at some of the brothels within the capital city and

neighbouring villages near the prison, where some of the prisoners

were identified and arrested.


As at 8.30 a.m. when THISDAY visited the prison, the situation had

been brought under control as men of various security agencies were

moved into the facility to help restore order.


The state commissioner of police, Mr. Patrick Dukumor, was one of the

early callers while some government functionaries led by the state

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Eyitayo Jegede

(SAN), also visited the prison.


The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) for the state command, Mr.

Wole Ogodo, said the command had contacted the prison authority,

stressing that the information gathered on the incident was still

sketchy.


Ogodo noted that the incident has nothing to do with terrorism and

called on the people of the state to continue with their normal duty

assuring them that the police would continue to protect lives and

properties of the people of the state.


He said all the security agents within the state were working to track

the criminals, adding that the hoodlums will be brought to book.