Operatives of Edo state prison services have debunked media reports of a jail break in Benin Central prisons.
The state Comptroller of prisons, Mr. Effion Etowa, who stated this in an interview with newsmen, said “what actually happened was an attempted bold escape from a psychiatric awaiting trial prisoner.
Etowa said the inmate had complained of some uncomfortable feelings and was taken to medical section for treatment during which he made an attempt to escape after the medication.
He said: “Anyone can attempt to escape because no one wants to be imprisoned, but that is not to say it was a jail break. Bold escape does happen. But in this case, the prison warden was able to apprehend the inmate.
“Even in police cell and when soldier arrest anybody, you often sees the suspect attempting to escape. And to further confirm this to you, the state Chief Judge visited the Benin Prison in December and identified the prisoner as a psychiatric patient that required psychiatric attention.”
The comptroller, who admitted that the prison was congested, said the facilities currently housed 668 prisoners as against 250 intended capacities.
He commented Edo state command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the State Security Services (SSS) for their response.
