UPDATED: Gunmen Attack Kogi Prison, Free 240 Inmates

At least 240 inmates have reportedly escaped following an attack on the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) in Kabba, Kogi State, by gunmen.

The attack was said to have occurred in the early hours of Monday.

Confirming the incident, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) spokesman, Francis Enobore, in a statement on Monday, said the assailants arrived the custodial centre heavily armed and engaged officers on ground in a fierce gun battle.

Enobore, however, said that the NCoS Comptroller–General, Haliru Nababa, has ordered investigation into the incident while also directing his men to recapture the escaped inmates.

The NCoS appealed to the general public to help with useful information that could lead to the recapture of the escapees.

This incident came over five months after gunmen attacked the Imo State Correctional Service and a police headquarters in the state, freeing 1,844 inmates and setting the facilities ablaze.

Also, a similar attack in April at the correctional centre in Ubiaja, Edo State, was foiled by officers at the facility.

The inmates, after breaking out from their cells, had reportedly engaged the correctional officers in a fight, leaving some of the security personnel injured.