Trouble was prevented on Friday, October 10, 2014 when a major jail break was averted at Kirikiri medium prison after wild protests from inmates, according to a Vanguard report.
The melee began when the deputy controller of the prison, who was supposed to embark on a course assembled inmates and formally introduced his successor, sparking protests from the inmates who voiced grievances against the alleged high-handed administration of the outgoing official.
The protest escalated and lasted for hours, leading to the torching of the chief warders office, holding some of the officials hostage. Five of the inmates were said to have lost their lives when they escaped through the fence.
Law and order was finally restored after heavily armed soldiers and trained dogs were detached to the scene as the inmates had outdone the prison officials and were making for the main gate. Some of the inmates who had escaped through the fence to Dillion street in Kirirkiri town were stopped in their tracks by the military men. Unconfirmed reports say some of them were shot, although their conditions could not be ascertained.
