Boko Haram bombs Kogi prison •Kills warder, frees members, other inmates escape •Shoot-out in Maiduguri •SSS declares ex-soldier wanted

Posted by admin Boko Haram, Headlines Wednesday, February 15th, 2012

THE dreaded Islamic religious sect popularly known as Boko Haram, on Wednesday evening stormed the Nigeria Prison at Koton Karfe, Kogi State, with bombs and guns, killing one prison warder and setting the inmates free. Sources close to the prison service disclosed to Nigerian Tribune that they stormed the prison immediately after the Magrib prayer.

Koton Karfe is a town after the Niger bridge on the way to Abuja.

Nigerian Tribune’s investigations revealed that the sect members went in full force with their vehicles parked very far from the prison and stormed the prison on motorcycles.

He said members of the community living close to the prison ran for dear life when they heard the shootings.

He added that the operation lasted for 30 minutes.

According to the source, on arrival at the prison, they opened fire on one of the security men, at the entrance of the prison and killed him on the spot.

The source added that the main gate of the prison was bombed by the Boko Haram members numbering over 20.

They were said to have moved into the prison and shot sporadically into the air to chase other prison officials away, as they freed some of their members allegedly arrested and brought to the prison.

According to the source, other prisoners took advantage of the situation and escaped from the prison during the attack.

Meanwhile, the State Security Service (SSS), on Wednesday, declared Habibu Bama wanted for crime against the country.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that he was declared wanted in connection with Christmas Day bombing at St Theresa’s Church in Madalla, Niger State, where scores of people were reportedly killed.

It was also learnt that the re-arrested accomplice of the Christmas Day bombing, Kabiru Sokoto, reportedly revealed Bama’s identity to the service during interrogation.

A statement issued in Abuja and signed by the Deputy Director, Public Relations of the service, Ms Marilyn Ogar, which declared the suspect wanted, said “Bama is hereby declared wanted by the Federal Government, in connection with crimes against the state.”

Bama, according to the statement, “is an ex-soldier, Kanuri by tribe and hails from Bama, Borno State. He is also known by the following names: Habib BAMA; Shuaibu BAMA; and Habib MAMMAN.”

The statement asked members of the public with any information that could lead to his arrest to contact the nearest police station, military formation or any other security agency.

-Tribunewp_posts