November 29, 2021

They were heavily armed and they came in large number, arrived at the gate of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) in Jos, engaged the security personnel at the gate in a shootout before making their way into the premises.

“We heard guns blazing, it was like a war zone and we all hid anywhere we could find space. Initially I did not know who was shooting at who until later when we were told that gunmen had attacked the correctional centre,” that was how a man identified simply as Japhet described the incident in Jos.

Japhet said he and his friend were heading towards that direction when the gun battle started and they had to drive back.

This was further confirmed by the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) which gave an insight into  an attack on the Jos Correctional centre by gunmen on Sunday.

Mr Francis Enobore, the National Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the service, confirmed the incident in a statement issued to newsmen in Jos.

According to Enobore,the gunmen invaded the prison yard at about 5:20 p.m.

“The Medium Security Custodial Centre in Jos, Plateau State came under attack by gunmen who stormed the facility in large number with sophisticated weapons.

“The invaders were said to have arrived at the Center at about 5: 20 p.m.  and immediately made for the main gate where they engaged the armed squad personnel in a gun battle before breaking into the yard.

“Although they gained entrance into the yard, they were, however, trapped within as men from sister security services were immediately mobilised to assist the armed guards to cordon the perimeter wall and the entire area.

“Reinforcement from the response squad of the Service has also been mobilised to the center.

“The situation is presently under control as the attackers’ firing power was subdued by superior fire from a combined team of security agencies,” he said.

Recall that correctional centres had been attacked across the country in Imo, Benin, Osun, among other places.