2 inmates escape, six shot at Sapele prison

A jailbreak was recorded on Tuesday April 29, at the Nigerian Correctional Service custodial centre in Sapele, Delta State, few days after the same facility was set on fire by inmates who were protesting against an alleged ill-treatment.

The inmates had protested against the amnesty which was granted to some inmates of the facility by Governor Ifeanyi Okowa. They described it as ‘selective amnesty’, insisting they all deserved equal treatment as prisoners.

2 inmates successfully escaped from the facility, while 6 others were shot and rushed to Sapele Central Hospital for treatment. Daily Trust reported that the unidentified inmates escaped through the wall of the women wing of the Sapele facility.

A security personnel who confirmed the incident said;

“The prisoners are totally misinformed, they thought that COVID-19 amnesty granted was for every one. So they are insisting it is for all of them.

“How can the amnesty be for all of them, when we have murderers, rapists, and other high level criminals among them? There are conditions for the amnesty and they should know that.”

The NCoS Public Relations Officer in the state, Onome Onowakpoyeya also confirmed the incident. He said;

“Yes, it is true. Two inmates escaped in the early hours of Tuesday and six were maimed; they were shot while attempting to escape too and they have been hospitalised.”