Militants attack Afokang correctional facility Calabar, killed warder; no inmate escaped _ NCS
Gunmen suspected to be militants were reported late night Wednesday to have attacked the Calabar Correctional Centre, Afokang in Calabar South LGA of Cross River state killing an armed prison guard and leaving three others with severe gunshot wounds.
An eye witness who confirmed that the attack happened midnight said: “It was like a war front as the militants who were heavily armed with sophisticated weapons were confronted by soldiers guarding the prison”.
“They were not able to gain entry into the prison to achieve their aim of rescuing their friends. They escaped into the sea when their mission failed”.
A press release on Thursday from the Correctional Service by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSC Effanga Etim, said: “The Command wishes to clarify that at about 0600 hours on 17th October, 2023 at the said facility, a group of armed men attacked the facility.
“However, the Armed Squad on guard duty supported by personnel from sister security agencies engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle and repelled them, with some of them escaping with bullet wounds. Unfortunately, in the ensuing battle, one of our personnel paid the supreme prize.
“The Command confirms that the gunmen were successfully repelled by our gallant personnel and that no inmate escaped from the facility.
However, the Nigerian Correctional Service, Cross River State Command has debunked claims that some high profile inmates at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Afokang, Calabar were freed during the unknown gunmen attack.
“The attention of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Cross River State Command, has been drawn to a misleading report in some sections of the media that gunmen attacked the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Afokang, Calabar, Cross River state, and freed some high profile inmates.
“He calls on the public to disregard reports that some inmates escaped during the incident, as they are unfounded and targeted towards causing tension.”
“The Controller of Corrections, Cross River Command, Amos Danlami Kupan PhD, assures the public that normalcy has been restored, while security has been beefed up in the said facility as well as other custodial facilities in the Command to contain any external and internal aggression.
By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)
