Some armed men believed to be herdsmen on Thursday attacked a convoy of prison officials near Plateau High Court, Barkin Ladi, North-central Nigeria, freeing six criminal suspects.
AIT gathered that the convoy was conveying 14 suspects charged with different crimes ranging from murder to kidnapping and rape.
On arriving the court premises, the gunmen who had laid ambush by the court entrance, opened fire at the convoy, releasing the suspects unchallenged.
Reacting to the incident, the custodian of the Jos Center of the Nigeria Correctional Service, S.A Musa, while briefing the State Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka, at the scene of the incident, said the court did not notify him of a change in hearing date.
However, official sources said the inmates were not billed to appear in court when the Detention Officers brought them, unlocking their handcuffs on arrival.
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Meanwhile, the Plateau State Police Command through its spokesman, Gabriel Ubah, confirmed the arrest of four suspects and recovered two motorcycles while combing the bushes.
Editor: Ena Agbanoma