JUST IN: Heavy gunfire as suspected Boko Haram insurgents attack Jos correctional centre

Gunmen suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents on Sunday attacked Jos Correctional Centre in Plateau State.

The gunmen stormed the facility at 5:30 p.m., shot sporadically and forced the officers at the correctional facility to scamper for safety.

However, no casualty has been reported despite the heavy gunfire in the area.

An eyewitness told Ripples Nigeria that the heavily armed criminals stormed the correctional centre ostensibly to free inmates at the facility.

He added that reinforcement from the State Special Task Force (STF), Operation Safe Haven, was immediately deployed to secure the facility.

READ ALSO: Jos hospitals, morgues overflowing with victims of attacks, NMA cries out

“The shooting is still going on. It is like a war situation. The whole area has been taken over by shooting but we hear that the STF soldiers are around while the invaders are trapped in the middle.

“Surrounding streets like Ibrahim Taiwo and High Court area have been cordoned off.

“The invaders could not get inside as the security men exchanged fire with them before the STF came. For now, no one is sure if there is any casualty,” the witness said.

Efforts to get the spokesman of the state police command, Ubah Gabriel, to confirm the incident were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now