Metro
Failed jailbreak: Gov Umahi declares state of emergency on Abakiliki prisons
Following a failed jailbreak on Thursday, Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has declared a state of emergency on Abakaliki Prisons.
He made the declaration when he visited the prisons after the botched jailbreak by the inmates, in which a number of them were reported to have died.
The governor, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya said, “Early in the morning (Thursday), I was told of attempted jailbreak by inmates of Abakaliki Prisons. The Commissioner of Police (Peace Ibekwe-Abdallah) reported the incident to me and did promise that they (police) were re-enforcing. She told me she had contacted all the security chiefs in the state. They successfully prevented the inmates from escaping.
“I was told that those who attempted the escape are those awaiting trial. I was told that there are so many of them awaiting trial. This is not good for us.”
Umahi directed the state Director of Prisons, Adaobi Oputa, to compile such cases and send to him to enable him put head together with the state’s Chief Judge, Justice Aloy Nwankwo, to fast-track justice.
Read also: Kwankwaso/Ganduje Rivalry: Police stop Kwankwasiyya mass wedding
He decried the level of infrastructure decay in the Abakiliki Prisons, saying such was not good for the inmates. Noting that the structures were built in the 1960s, he promised to partner the prisons authorities to modernise the facility.
The governor also said his administration would provide sporting facilities in the prisons in order to keep inmates engaged.
There were reports on Thursday, that several inmates of the Abakaliki prisons in Ebonyi state were feared dead and many others sustaining bullet injuries following the foiled jail break.
The reports claimed that two prison official were also wounded in the when prisoners on revolted against what they said was poor treatment, especially inadequate feeding that they claim, has been persistent in the prison for a long time.
It was gathered that the angry inmates started rioting inside the prison and used every object within their reach to attack prison officials and consequently injured many.
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