A jailbreak has occurred at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, popularly referred to as Okere Prison in Warri South council area of Delta State, with a yet to be specified number of the inmates escaping.
Flames and thick smoke are reportedly emanating from the vicinity of the prison.
Confirming the escape of inmates to The Nation, the spokesperson of the state police command, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, said the prisoners had been protesting, before the jailbreak.
“They said the prisoners lit a fire inside the prison. The DPO said the prisoners were already protesting inside the prison. And it’s like they were already aware of what is going on like they have people they are working with.
He said some of them were able to escape, I don’t know the number for now. He said they pushed the gate from inside, I don’t know how because on our part, we fortified the place from the outside.”
A video shared online showed gunshots were fired after the inmates ran out of the prison yard.
It is yet to be confirmed if there were any casualties.