Margibi County—More than 100 prisoners, including both sentenced and pre-trial detainees, have escaped from the Kakata Central Prison in Margibi County. According to reports gathered by FrontPage Africa, the mass jail break occurred early Sunday evening, during which the prisoners overpowered the guards on duty, inflicting bodily injuries on several of them.
By: Yawah Y. Jaivey
Eyewitness Archie Gono, who resides near the prison compound, described the scene as chaotic. “We saw a large group of men escaping through the Carter High community,” Gono recounted.
He added that community members attempted to stop the fleeing prisoners but were overwhelmed by their sheer numbers.
Despite repeated efforts by local media to seek comment on the situation, prison authorities have remained tight-lipped about the incident. Authorities have yet to issue an official statement regarding the escape or the condition of the injured guards.
The community is on high alert as security forces continue efforts to recapture the escaped prisoners.
Meanwhile, Margibi County Detachment Commander, ACP Patrick Kormazu, informed FrontPageAfrica that the police, in collaboration with officers from the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation (BCR) in the county, have launched a manhunt for the escaped prisoners.
He disclosed that several of the escapees have already been apprehended, but failed to announce the number of prisoners that have been rearrested.
“We urge citizens not to panic and to assist the security apparatus by providing any information that could lead to the rearrests of the prison escapees,” ACP Kormazu advised.
The Margibi County Police Chief also reassured residents that the police are making every effort to bring the situation under control.