Six re-arrested in Bayelsa failed jail break

No fewer than six prisoners, detained on awaiting trial for kidnapping, armed robbery and murder, were re- arrested in the confusion during their alleged attempt to break out of medium prison facility located in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

Our correspondent gathered that the re-arrested prisoners had broke out of their cell by tearing open the wall with explosive suspected to be Improvised Explosive Device (IED) and were heading for the ‎outer wall with the second explosive before they were arrested by the armed squad of the Nigerian Prison Service.

The incident, which occurred at about 9.05pm on Sunday, caused panic among the Okaka residents with loud explosion,gun shots and loud noises coming from the prison facility.

It was also gathered that during the preliminary investigation conducted by the Nigerian Prison Service, Bayelsa Command led by Controller of Prison, Chiabua Chuks Victor Uche‎ showed that the six arrested prisoners involved in the failed jail break were assisted by three other acomplices.
‎The accomplices, who have been identified, are placed under observation for arrest.

“It was gathered that the IEDs were smuggled into the prison facility in a 900 gramme Blue Band butter pack as provisions, and that an unexploded IED meant to blow open the outer wall was recovered from one of the suspect”

Confirming the incident, ‎the Comproller of the Bayelsa Command of the Nigerian Prison Service, Chiabua Chuks Victor Uche, said though the quick response of sister security agencies of the Nigerian Police, Department of State Security (DSS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) thwarted any possible jail break, ” the situation is calm and the bomb squad of the Police have evacuated the unexploded IED”
On the possible cases of congestion as cause of attempted jail break, Chiabua Chuks Victor Uche, noted that though the issue of congestion in the Bayelsa prison‎ was caused by the slow pace of justice dispensation in the state, ” We are only custodians and don’t reject prisoners as long as they have proper documentation.”