Security crisis engulfs Benin as hoodlums attack another prison facility, free inmates

A major security crisis has engulfed Benin City, the Edo State capital, hoodlums attacked the Oko Medium Security Centre in the state and freed the inmates.

This came hours after some hoodlums hijacked #EndSARS protest to attack the Benin Correctional Centre and free inmates.

Before the attack on Oko Correctional Centre, the suspected hoodlums had ransacked Oba Market police station, attacked its armoury and went away with their guns and some uniforms they found in the station.

While that was going, suspected hoodlums attacked Igbekun police station and set it ablaze.

The hoodlums according to eyewitnesses overpowered the five armed guards in the Oko Correctional Centre and had a free day looting shops along roadsides leading to the prison.

They also reportedly carted away valuables from offices of prison officials.

Immediately after the attack in Benin Prison, security was alerted in Oko but calls to the Nigerian Army and the Police for reinforcement were not heeded hence the ease with which the hoodlums overpowered the prison guards.

The facility has the capacity to accommodate 1300 inmates.

A prison source said, “They came in their thousands and their mission was to free inmates. They have been communicating with the inmates because even before they broke into the facility, the inmates were already rioting inside the place.”