36 dangerous prisoners have escaped from Ikot Ekpene Prison in Akwa-Ibom State on Wednesday after attacking personnel on duty.
Command Public Relations Officer, ASP Ogbajie J. Ogbajie, in a statement said: “At about 11: 47hrs on Wednesday, 27 December 2017, there was an attack on kitchen staff that were on duty at Ikot Ekpene Prison in Akwa-Ibom State by some prisoners.
“They seized an axe from fellow inmate attached to the kitchen, inflicting a deep cut to inmates’ head in the process and immediately made for the rear entrance to the prison. They broke the door with the axe and engaged the staff that chased after them in battle.
“At the end of the scuffle, 4 of them that sustained gun shots lost their lives while 7 were recaptured. 36 are still at large,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Controller of Prisons Akwa Ibom State Command, Alex Oditah has ordered an investigation into the circumstance surrounding the incident.
He appealed to members of the public to assist the authority with useful intelligence that will aid the recapture of the fleeing prisoners.
Oditah assured that security has been strengthen in all prison formations in the State to forestall any breach of security.
