Bauchi prison break

Bauchi prison break
Part of Nigerian Sharia conflict
Location Bauchi State, northern Nigeria
Date 7 September 2010
Target Bauchi prison
Attack type
 Prison break
Deaths 5
Non-fatal injuries
 6
Perpetrators Boko Haram
Number of participants
 50
Defenders 721 prisoners escaped

The Bauchi prison break was an attack on Bauchi prison[1] in the northern Nigerian city of Bauchi by 50 gunmen.[2][3] The attack occurred on 7 September 2010.[4] The gunmen were suspected to be members of Boko Haram.[4][5] 721 prisoners escaped the prison.[4]

Background

Due to Nigeria being split between the Christian south and Muslim north, tensions have built between the two groups. There has been sectarian violence since 1999.[6] The prisoners were largely awaiting trial for sectarian violence in the country in 2009.[3] The group who conducted the prison raid, Boko Haram, was involved in the sectarian violence in 2009.[4] The group opposes non-Islamic education in Nigeria.[4][3]

The attack came on the same day that the 2011 presidential election was announced.[7]

Incident

Olusola Ogundipe, the comptroller general of the Nigerian Prisons Services, said that of the 759 inmates,[1] 721 prisoners were freed.[4] including 150 members of the Islamist group.[2] Over thirty prisoners returned to the prison to serve out their short sentences.[3] Additionally thirty-five prisoners have been re-arrested.[7] Parts of the jail were set on fire and five people were killed; a further six people were sent to a local hospital.[5][8]

Reaction

The state governor, Isa Yuguda, announced on 8 September 2010 that members of Boko Haram should leave the state or be flushed out forcefully.[4] The city is currently calm with soldiers manning checkpoints on the major roads.[3] According to state police commissioner, Danlami Yar'Adua, eleven suspected members of Boko Haram have been arrested.[7] According to the Nigerian government, security would also be tightened at other jails, especially those thought to be vulnerable to attack.[7] The minister for the interior, Emmanuel Ihenacho, stated that the "[Nigerian people's] safety and security remain paramount to us."[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Sani, Sani Muh'd. "Attack On Bauchi Prison – Boko Haram Frees 721 Inmates." allAfrica.com. 8 September 2010. Retrieved on 14 September 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Nigerian gunmen free 800 in prison break". The Independent. 9 September 2010. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Gunmen Stage Massive Prison Break in Northern Nigeria". Voice of America. 8 September 2010. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "721 inmates freed in Nigeria's prison break". Xinhua News Agency. 8 September 2010. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  5. 1 2 "'Boko Haram attack' frees hundreds of prisoners". BBC News. 8 September 2010. Archived from the original on 8 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  6. ↑ "Africa's troubled giant". The Economist. 8 February 2002. Retrieved 9 September 2010. (subscription required (help)).
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Manhunt begins after prison break". Independent Online. 9 September 2010. Archived from the original on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
  8. 1 2 "Bauchi: 5 confirmed dead after Boko Haram attack •759 inmates escape from prison •FG warns trouble makers". Nigerian Tribune. 9 September 2010. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2010.

Coordinates: 10°18′57″N 9°50′39″E / 10.3158°N 9.8442°E / 10.3158; 9.8442

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