Metal beds used by militants to escape from Nigerian jail

On Sunday five militant prisoners used metal beds as ladders to climb over the prison walls, where they were being held in Nigeria’s main oil-hub Port Harcourt according to prison officials. Over the years militants who state they are fighting for a fairer share of the country’s oil wealth have been the cause of sabotage attacks and kidnappings of oil workers in the Niger Delta, which is the hub of Africa’s largest oil and gas industry.

Attacks by militants were brought to a halt in 2009 by an amnesty however there are still incidents of theft and of abductions of oil workers. The five militants who escaped on Sunday are considered dangerous, a spokesman for Port Harcourt prison said: “Seven inmates escaped but two have been rearrested. The five escapees are dangerous criminals, notorious militants. We appeal to the public to assist us in re-arresting them. Breaking was achieved by the use of iron beds as ladders to cross into the waterfronts.”

The prison spokesman said that 23 other inmates had also attempted to escape however they did not manage to get out of the prison.

Picture courtesy of eutrophication&hypoxia’s

World News