Gunmen attack Maiduguri prison, set inmates free

Lagos, Nigeria - Gunmen, suspected to be Boko Haram members, on Thursday attacked a prison in Gwoza Local Government Area of the northern Borno state with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and petrol-bombs, setting all the inmates free, the local Vanguard newspaper reported.


Thursday’s attack is the second this month following the attack on a Divisional Police Station and a second generation bank at Gwoza on 4 March.

Gwoza, a border town with Cameroon, is 135 kilometres southeast of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

Quoting an eyewitness account, the Vanguard reported that the gunmen took the police and other security agents unawares when they came in three vehicles, chanting, “Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar” in Arabic, meaning 'God is great, God is great', before detonating IEDs and throwing petrol bombs at the prison building, located near the emir’s palace.

The eyewitness said the gunmen did not meet any resistance from security agencies, as the prison building was set ablaze with explosives and all the inmates freed.

Residents and passersby, the eyewitness added, had to scamper for safety.

According to the eyewitness account, “the attack lasted for only half an hour after which the gunmen fled to an unknown destination through the Gadamayo and Market roads of Gwoza town.'

Attempts to reach the State Police Commissioner, Yuguda Abdullahi, proved abortive as he was said to be in a meeting.

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