In what seems like insider aided operation yesterday evening, some gunmen gained entrance into Minna medium Prison called “Minna new prison” located on the outskirts of Tunga Minna, off David Mark road, freeing 270 prisoners of the 323 inmates of both convicted and awaiting trials categories.
LEADERSHIP Sunday gathered that three gunmen gained access to the prison after over powering the Prison warders at the entrance of the prison and gained access without breaking the door leading to the jail house.
It was learnt that the three gunmen gained entrance and stationed some of their men in the bush path adjoining the prison yard as they shot into the air and injured the warder guarding the door leading to the prison.
A check revealed that the gunmen’s entrance coincided with the 4.30pm time that inmates who are convicted are allowed to come out of their cells to the yard and the operation lasted for just ten minutes.
An eye witness account stated that the prisoners were able to be released because they were not in their cells and that the 53 left were those who are awaiting trials and were locked up in their cells when the gunmen entered.
It was learnt that the gunmen who came wearing long robe (Jalabia) concealing their firearm might have come to release two notorious armed robbers Ayo alias Eze Ego and Osama who were convicted and brought to the prison last Wednesday.
A Prison official who preferred anonymity revealed that Osama was seen collecting gun from those who broke into the prison firing into the air within the prison yard before snatching a white car immediately from a passerby to escape but was unable to move the car because of the security installation in the car.
“Where I took cover I saw Osama, one of the notorious armed robbers in the facility firing shots into the air. I want to believe his gang must have brought the gun and I saw him leading Ayo (Eze Ego), a dismissed Mobile policeman, out with other inmates” the official said.
It was learnt that the escapees drove off in a Sienna space bus they snatched from another passerby. They were said to have later abandoned the car with some fire arms on the road before escaping through foot paths.
As at the time of filing this report, the commander of the 31 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General Mohammed Abba Diko, commissioner of Police Olusola Amore, and director of the Department of State Security (DSS) Mr Larry Obiagwu had visited the prison.
The Asst Controller in charge of the Prison, Mohammed Idris was not available to answer journalists questions as at press time but the Commissioner of Police said his men have apprehended four of the escaped Prison Inmates.
