EIGHT DIE IN NIGERIA 'JAIL BREAK' !
Eight inmates have been killed and at least 18 people were wounded after hundreds of prisoners tried to break out of a jail in Nigeria, police said. Riots broke out at Agodi jail in Oyo state as inmates protested against poor medical services, a jail official said.
Armed inmates held jail wardens hostage for an hour. Police opened fire after hundreds of prisoners attempted a mass break-out amid the rioting. None of the prisoners managed to escape, jail officials said.
State controller of prisons Mauren Omeli told Nigeria's NAN news agency she believed prisoners at the jail in Ibadan were rioting over fears of inadequate medical care. "They thought one of them, who was hospitalised at the weekend, was dead and that was why they revolted this morning and damaged properties and attempted to escape after overpowering the officials," she said.
There are about 45,000 inmates in Nigeria - a low figure for Africa's most populous country, which has a population of more than 130 million. But prison riots are relatively common in Nigeria's overcrowded jails, says the BBC's Alex Last in Lagos. Most inmates have never been convicted, languishing for years in jail awaiting trial by the country's inefficient legal system, our correspondent says.
And many have already served more time in prison than if they had actually been found guilty of the crime of which they are accused.
BBC NEWS REPORT.
Armed inmates held jail wardens hostage for an hour. Police opened fire after hundreds of prisoners attempted a mass break-out amid the rioting. None of the prisoners managed to escape, jail officials said.
State controller of prisons Mauren Omeli told Nigeria's NAN news agency she believed prisoners at the jail in Ibadan were rioting over fears of inadequate medical care. "They thought one of them, who was hospitalised at the weekend, was dead and that was why they revolted this morning and damaged properties and attempted to escape after overpowering the officials," she said.
There are about 45,000 inmates in Nigeria - a low figure for Africa's most populous country, which has a population of more than 130 million. But prison riots are relatively common in Nigeria's overcrowded jails, says the BBC's Alex Last in Lagos. Most inmates have never been convicted, languishing for years in jail awaiting trial by the country's inefficient legal system, our correspondent says.
And many have already served more time in prison than if they had actually been found guilty of the crime of which they are accused.
posted by jackaranda at 2:48 am
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