Niger Republic has suffered another jailbreak following Thursday’s escape of an unspecified number of high-ranking terrorists and other criminals from prison.
The incident happened at the Koutoukalé prison in Tillabéri region, regarded as the country’s most secure prison, which is about 50 kilometres northwest of Niamey, the state capital.
It holds high-ranking terrorists and other criminals.
The circumstances surrounding the latest jailbreak are yet unknown, but reports revealed that the prisoners escaped in the midst of a mutiny that lasted more than two hours.
The detainees had reportedly taken over the prison and escaped the compound, putting the Niger authorities on high alert.
It was gathered that two previous attempts by terrorists to attack the prison had been thwarted.
Confirming the incident, the Interior Ministry in a radio message to the governors called for caution and asked that all security agencies report any suspicious individual.
The Office of the Deputy Administrator of the Urban Municipality of Tillabéri also announced a curfew from 9 pm (Thursday local time) across the communal territory including traffic of pedestrians, two-wheeled machines, and vehicles.
This incident comes barely 24 hours after the Nigeria Military acknowledged impending plans by terrorists to attack relevant infrastructures across the country, of which its major correctional centres topped the list.