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Authorities Begin Investigations Into Inmates’ Riot Thought To Be Jail Break Attempt

The Nigerian Prisons Service has set up a probe panel to look into inmates riot at the Apapa Kirikiri medium prisons on Friday, which was … Continue reading Authorities Begin Investigations Into Inmates’ Riot Thought To Be Jail Break Attempt


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attempted jail breakThe Nigerian Prisons Service has set up a probe panel to look into inmates riot at the Apapa Kirikiri medium prisons on Friday, which was widely reported as a jail break attempt.

Confirming the riot to Channels Television on Saturday, the spokesman for the Nigerian Prisons Service, Mr Ope Fatinikun, dismissed reports that it was a jailbreak attempt.

“It was a riot and not a jailbreak. There is a difference between a jailbreak and a riot. yesterday’s unrest was a riot.”

He said that the probe panel was set up by the Acting Controller-General of Prisons, Aminu Sule.

“The panel would be headed by the Assistant Comptroller-General of Prisons Operations and they will unravel the cause of the riot.

“There were seven casualties yesterday, three inmates were treated, four were admitted into hospital.

“This morning one of those four died and we are having three in the hospital presently.

“At this stage it will not be wise to look at the cause of the riot since the probe panel had been set up,” Mr Fatinikun stressed.

He said that the panel report would be ready before the end of the week and would be made public.

Eyewitnesses said the inmates protested on Friday against poor welfare conditions. The said that the prison authorities had to wade in, with the use of force, after the riots got out of hand.

One of the inmates who wouldn’t want to be identified told Channels Television that following the resumption of a new head of prison, some of the welfare materials meant for the prisoners was not released, a situation which they claim had suddenly made life difficult for them.

The inmates said that they were unhappy with the situation and would want relevant authorities to look into it.