Suspected Boko Haram gunmen free 14 prison inmates in Nigeria

Lagos, Nigeria (PANA) - Gunmen suspected to be members of the Islamic sect Boko Haram set free 14 inmates of the Satellite Prison in Nigeria's northern state of Yobe when they attacked the prison and a police station in the state on Wednesday night, the local media reported.

After the gunmen freed the inmates, they then set ablaze a police station at Damagum, in Fune council area of the state.

The report quoted state police command spokesman Toyin Gbadegesin as saying three of the gunmen were killed during the attack, while a policeman was injured.

“Yes, we have gone and conducted an on-the-spot assessment of the damage. From what we got, it is true that the assailants attacked the Damagum Police Station and burnt it down with explosives. Three of the assailants were killed; one policeman was shot in the leg and he is recovering at the hospital. The other gunmen fled to the bush.

“A satellite prison facility in the town was also attacked where 14 inmates were set free and two refused to go,'' he said.

Boko Haram's attacks against prisons are becoming frequent, and analysts said the attacks are aimed at freeing their members who are in jail across the country.

Last month, a similar attack on the Koton-Karfi prison in central Kogi state freed 119 inmates.

Since launching its violent campaign in 2009, Boko Haram has killed over 1,200 people, according to the Nigeria's top military chief, Air Chief Marshal Oluseyin Petirin.

Among its demands, Boko Haram wants to impose the Sharia Islamic code on the country's Muslims.
-0- PANA SEG 30May2012