Two security operatives were reportedly killed in an attack by gunmen on Kabba Correctional Centre in Kogi state.
The gunmen were said to have freed many prisoners in the facility.
The attack occurred in the wee hours of Monday.
The gunmen were said to have attacked a military checkpoint located a few metres away from the correctional centre with heavy gunfire before descending on the prison.
A soldier was said to be have been injured in the attack.
Confirming the incident, Francis Enobore, spokesman of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), said the gunmen were “heavily armed” and immediately engaged the guards in a fierce gun duel.
Enobore said Haliru Nababa, the comptroller-general, has ordered the recapture of the escaped inmates and an investigation into the incident.
Over 230 inmates were said to have escaped from the Kabba prison facility.
Many of those reportedly held at the correctional centre have not been arraigned in court.
The development is coming about five years after a jailbreak in Koton Karfe prison in Kogi.
Thirteen prisoners escaped from the facility. Koton Karfe prison also recorded jailbreaks in 2010 and 2013.
Meanwhile, the Kogi state government says many of the inmates who escaped during an attack on a correctional centre in the state have been re-arrested.
Gunmen attacked the Kabba Custodial Centre in the early hours of Monday, freeing many inmates and killing two soldiers.
Confirming the incident in a statement on Monday, Kingsley Fanwo, the state commissioner for information, said security agencies were working to apprehend those responsible.
He added that many inmates who escaped have been re-arrested, while some returned on their own.
“We can confirm that some gunmen attacked the Kabba Custodial Centre but investigations are still on to clearly ascertain the number of inmates that escaped from the centre. We also lost two security operatives. That is the number we have at the moment,” the statement reads.
“The state security adviser, commander Jerry Omodara (rtd) is currently at the centre with the Kogi state commissioner of police and the commander, army records, Lokoja.
“Security agencies have zeroed in to ensure those who escaped are rearrested as well as trail the masterminds of the attack. We have confidence in our security agencies to unmask the masterminds responsible for the attack and get them apprehended.
“Our security network has led to the rearrest of majority of the inmates that escaped as some have also come back to the centre on their own.
“Security agencies, traditional rulers and local hunters are working in synergy to ensure normalcy.”
Fanwo asked residents of Kogi and neighboring states to volunteer information that will ensure the apprehension of the masterminds of the onslaught.
“Our people should go about their normal businesses as security agencies are doing their best to ensure security of lives and property in the face of the unfortunate breach,” he said.
