The Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) says it foiled a jailbreak attempt by inmates at the prison in Ubiaja, Esan South East local government area.

In Benin, Richard Ogbebor, spokesman for the NSCDC, disclosed that the attempted jailbreak occurred from 15:00 hours to 17:00 hours on Wednesday.

Mr Ogbebor explained that the corps received a distress call on the attempted jailbreak and subsequently mobilised its operatives led by Samuel Ogbeide, an Assistant Superintendent of Corps 1, to the facility.

He added that the inmates had broken out from their cells and attacked the prison officers by the time the NSCDC operatives arrived at the facility.

Mr Ogbebor also disclosed that the inmates attacked the officers and injured some of them as they tried to bring the situation under control.

However, with the Nigerian Army’s assistance, the 4th Brigade, and the Edo Command, Nigerian Police Force, the inmates were eventually overpowered and taken back to their cells.

Mr Ogbebor noted that the authorities had “fully” beefed up security at the facility by all security agencies.

He did not give any reason for the attempted jailbreak or how the inmates broke out of their cells.

On Friday, a riot broke out at a prison in Bauchi, leaving five inmates and two officers injured.

Earlier in the month, a prison and police investigations department in Owerri were set alight in an overnight operation as gunmen struck the prison and police department, freeing hundreds of inmates and suspects.

(NAN)