Following the violent attack on Haiti’s main prison Saturday night by armed gangs, the Haitian government has declared a 72-hour state of emergency on Sunday.

Several people were killed in the deadly prison invasion.

The government, in a statement, confirmed that the gangs attacked a prison in the capital and another in nearby Croix des Bouquets.

The government, which described the attacks as acts of “disobedience” threatening national security, declared an immediate night-time curfew, which started on Monday.

A human rights attorney, Arnel Remy, the head of a non-profit that works inside the prisons, on his X handle, revealed that less than 100 of the 4,000 inmates remained behind bars after the attack.

Colombians who shared the videos on Saturday night during the chaos could be seen urgently pleading for their lives.

One of the men, Francisco Uribe, in a 30-second video, could be seen saying, “Please, please help us,” adding, “They are massacring people indiscriminately inside the cells.”

Also, a union representing the police pleaded for help on social media, saying, “Let’s mobilise the army and the police to prevent the bandits from breaking into the prison.”

The incident happened as Prime Minister Ariel Henry travelled abroad to solicit support for a United Nations-backed security force to stabilise the country.

On Thursday, four police officers were killed in the country’s capital after gunmen opened fire on targets including Haiti’s international airport.

The criminals also reportedly attacked two police stations as civilians scampered for safety while businesses and schools were closed down in fear.

A former police officer in the country, Jimmy Chérizier, who now runs a gang federation, has claimed responsibility for the attacks. He revealed that the intention is to capture the country’s police chief and government ministers and prevent the president’s return.

However, in a bid to curtail the attacks, the President, on Friday, signed reciprocal agreements with Kenyan President William Ruto to deploy Kenyan police to Haiti.

Among those who refused to escape are 18 former Colombian soldiers who were accused of working as mercenaries to assassinate then-President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021.

Gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, a former police officer, had vowed to force the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who has been in Nairobi, Kenya, since Thursday, to discuss sending a Kenya-led multinational security force to his country to quell the violence.

He said, “All of us, the armed groups in the provincial towns and the armed groups in the capital, are united.”