By Patrick Obia
The Nigerian Correctional Service, Cross River State Command has debunked claims that some high profile inmates at the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Afokang, Calabar were freed during an unknown gunmen attack.
Gunmen believed to be militants on the late night of Wednesday, in their numbers attacked the Correctional Center, killed armed security, and made away with his rifle.
The Correctional Service had earlier confirmed the attack and death.
But in a press release issued on Thursday by the Public Relations Officer of the Command, DSC Effanga Etim for the Controller of Corrections, Cross River Command, Amos Danlami Kupan, refuted the claims that some inmates were freed.
He said the Armed Squad on guard duty supported by personnel from sister security agencies engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle and repelled them, with some of the attackers escaping with bullet wounds.
The Command, however, expressed that: “Unfortunately, in the ensuing battle, one of our personnel paid the supreme prize,” calling all and sundry to disregard rumor.
“The attention of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Cross River State Command, has been drawn to a misleading report in some sections of the media that gunmen attacked the Medium Security Custodial Centre, Afokang, Calabar, Cross River state, and freed some high profile inmates.
“The Command wishes to clarify that at about 0600 hours on 17th October, 2023 at the said facility, a group of armed men attacked the facility.
“However, the Armed Squad on guard duty supported by personnel from sister security agencies engaged the attackers in a fierce gun battle and repelled them, with some of them escaping with bullet wounds. Unfortunately, in the ensuing battle, one of our personnel paid the supreme prize.
“The Command confirms that the gunmen were successfully repelled by our gallant personnel and that no inmate escaped from the facility.
“The Controller of Corrections, Cross River Command, Amos Danlami Kupan PhD, assures the public that normalcy has been restored, while security has been beefed up in the said facility as well as other custodial facilities in the Command to contain any external and internal aggression.
“He calls on the public to disregard reports that some inmates escaped during the incident, as they are unfounded and targeted towards causing tension.”