UNCOVERED: 'Many Inmates Killed In Last Week’s Attempted Jailbreak In Ikoyi, Lagos Nigeria'

Award-winning investigative journalist, Fisayo Soyombo has claimed that many inmates were killed in last week’s attempted jailbreak at Ikoyi Prison in Lagos, South-West Nigeria.

Recall AllNews had reported that a part of the Nigerian Prisons Service facility had gone up in flames last Thursday, while inmates attempted to flee from custody. Gunshots were heard too.

#EndSars getting some videos guys pic.twitter.com/DMrt70Wl60

— Toke Makinwa (@tokstarr) October 22, 2020

Some files were destroyed in the process as the inmates were seen running about within the premises.

However, security operatives deployed to the centre restored order, while firefighters worked to put out the inferno.

Rotimi Oladokun, the spokesperson of the Lagos Command of the Nigerian Correctional Centre (NCS), had said that no inmate escaped from custody following the attempted.

According to Oladokun, security operatives were on ground to manage the situation.

He made no mention of the now-detected killings.

But Soyombo, on Wednesday night, through his verified Twitter handle, declared that he 'just confirmed' there were numerous fatalities, a news that 'escaped the notice of mainstream media'.

Soyombo once spent five days in a police cell and eight in Ikoyi Prison — to track corruption in Nigeria’s criminal justice system.

Just confirming that many inmates were killed in last week’s attempted jailbreak at Ikoyi Prison, even though it escaped the notice of mainstream media.

If you have loved ones at Ikoyi Prison, you’d do well to physically check on them to confirm if they’re dead or alive.

— 'Fisayo Soyombo (@fisayosoyombo) October 28, 2020

Prison breaks during Nigeria #EndSARS protests

The Ikoyi incident came amid widespread violence following the #EndSARS protests (a demonstration against police brutality and bad governance) across the country.

Prisons and police stations across the country were vandalised, leading to inmates escaping from custody.

In Edo State, where two prisons were attacked last Monday, the NCS said 1,993 inmates escaped from the centres. Although 10 escapee inmates of the Benin Medium Correctional Centre and Oko Medium Correctional Centre, AllNews understands, have now been rearrested.

Hoodlums were also said to have pulled down the fence of a prison in Okitipupa area of Ondo state, last Thursday, setting many of the prisoners free.

Similar occurrence was recorded in Warri, Delta State where a warder was reportedly shot dead, as inmates attempted to escape from the facility, with the aid of protesters.

Nigerian Correctional Service not responding to inquiry

As at the time of publishing this report, the government agency of Nigeria which operates prisons, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) did not respond to WhatsApp, Emails and SMS messages sent to them.

AllNews had reached out to the NCS to confirm the authenticity of Soyombo's claim.