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A foiled jail break in Abakaliki federal prison, Ebonyi state on Thursday has led to the death of an undisclosed number of inamtes.
Unconfirmed sources said more than 14 persons were killed including one prison officers as those injured and killed had been taken to the Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (FETHA).
Reports said that riot broke out early Thursday when prisoners revolted against inadequate feeding that has long been persistent in the prison for a long time.
Sources further revealed that the angry inmates started rioting inside the prison and used every object within their reach to attack prison officers and consequently injured many. Two of the prison officers wounded during the incident had been hospitalized.
It was learnt that the prison officers, it was learned, returned fire for fire which resulted in the killing of several inmates and many others sustained gunshot.
A report by Vanguard revealed that if not for the rapid response of the combined team of the Prison officers, Nigeria police and Army drafted to the scene, the inmates had started escaping from the prison having over-powered the guards.
As at press time, all roads leading to the Abakaliki prisons had been cordoned off.
Gunshots was heard intermittently as security operatives tried to recover a firearm allegedly taken from one of the prison officers by the inmates.
The rioting inmates had already succeeded in creating an opening on the wall before anti-riot policemen arrived and heavily tear gassed them into submission.
The prison is located beside the police headquarters leading to prompt intervention from the police.