By John Ikani
Nigerian authorities say 252 inmates are on the run after gunmen attacked a prison in the central city of Jos.
Nine detainees, one prison staff member and one of the gunmen were killed during Sunday’s raid, the Correctional Service said in a statement.
At least 10 inmates who fled were rearrested.
The attacked prison is located in an area housing the state headquarters of the country’s security agencies, including the police.
What you should know
Armed groups – sometimes trying to free their detained members – have frequently targeted Nigeria’s crowded prisons.
Jos jailbreak is the fourth to be recorded in the country this year, with many raising alarm about the safety of detention facilities in the West African nation.
In 2021 alone, more than 2,000 inmates were freed in three earlier jailbreaks.
On April 5 when at least 1,800 were freed in the southeast Imo State when a prison facility was attacked and also blown up by unknown gunmen.
Also on Sept 13, 240 inmates were freed after gunmen attacked a detention facility in north-central Kogi State with explosives.
On October 22, no fewer than 907 inmates escaped from the Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo State when unknown gunmen attacked the centre.
Even though the recent jailbreaks in the country seem to have no connection to each other, all of them have been carried out using explosives.
Authorities succeeded in rearresting some escaped inmates, while others reportedly returned willingly.
