Edo Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu has described a clash among prison inmates in Benin as a “minor incident.”

But the deputy governor on Thursday lauded personnel at the Nigeria Correctional Service for quelling the disturbance at the facility on Sapele Road, Benin.

There was a skirmish in prison when some awaiting trial inmates, especially recaptured escapees, started a protest, leading to a confrontation between them and convicted inmates.

The recaptured escapees had earlier been remanded at the Sapele Road facility over their involvements in the 2020 #EndSARS protests.

They bolted away from the prison recently and were recaptured.

Mr Shaibu gave the commendation shortly after the situation had calmed down.

“It was just a minor incident. Some persons were just trying to be unruly, and they were trying to take advantage of what was going on inside,” said the deputy governor. “I thank the officers of the correctional service for being on top of their game, and I want to really salute the courage of the officers for actually nipping the situation in the bud, otherwise, it would have been another story by now.”

He added that “even before the other security agencies responded,” officers of the correctional service had already put the situation under control.

“The number of inmates as of this morning in this facility was 421, and they are all still inside the centre as we speak,’’ the deputy governor explained.

(NAN)