Operatives of the Nigerian Army, Police and correctional officers on Thursday foiled a jailbreak attempt at one of the Edo correctional facilities known as White House along Sapele Road.
Commuters, drivers, passersby, and business owners around the prison were said to have scampered for safety when they heard gunshots at about 1:30 pm.
A statement by Command Public Relations Officer, Aminu Sulaiman, titled ‘Disturbance at Benin Custodial Centre’, the state Controller of Corrections, Felix Lawrence commended sister security outfits for giving his men back up during the disturbance.
The statement read, “At about 12:30 pm, some awaiting trial inmates especially the recaptured escapees started protest which led to a confrontation between them and the convicted inmates. Reinforcement was immediately mobilized from the state headquarters to enforce law and order.
“The situation has been completely controlled and the Custodial Centre is calm. There was no escape of any inmates or death.
“Sister security agencies have shown solidarity by drafting their men around the outer perimeter fence to compliment Correctional Service Armed Squad personnel to ensure total security of the custodial Centre.
“The Controller of Corrections Felix Lawrence wishes to assure the general public that they should go about their normal business without any fear. Meanwhile, investigation into the incident has been instituted by the Controller to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the disturbance,” the statement added.
During the EndSARS riots, the Sapele Road Correctional Centre as well as the Oko, Airport Road Centre, were compromised, with thousands of inmates escaping.
