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 |
| Injured (non-fatal) | 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 are in 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]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sani, Sani Muh'd. "Attack On Bauchi Prison – Boko Haram Frees 721 Inmates." allAfrica.com. 8 September 2010. Retrieved on 14 September 2010.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Nigerian gunmen free 800 in prison break". The Independent. 9 September 2010. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 "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.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 "721 inmates freed in Nigeria's prison break". Xinhua. 8 September 2010. Archived from the original on 11 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "'Boko Haram attack' frees hundreds of prisoners". BBC. 8 September 2010. Archived from the original on 8 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
- ↑ "Africa's troubled giant". The Economist. 8 February 2002. Retrieved 9 September 2010. (subscription required)
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Manhunt begins after prison break". Independent Online. 9 September 2010. Archived from the original on 24 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Bauchi: 5 confirmed dead after Boko Haram attack •759 inmates escape from prison •FG warns trouble makers". Nigerian Tribune. 9 September 2010. Retrieved 9 September 2010.