14 Feared Dead in Ebonyi Prison Riot.

Benjamin Nworie in Abakaliki.

About 13 inmates of Abakaliki Prisons and one prison officer were feared dead in the early hours of Thursday at Abakaliki Federal Prison when the inmates rioted over alleged poor meals served them by the prison officials.

Last April, a similar incident took place in Afikpo federal prisons when the inmates wielded dangerous weapons against the officials while also protesting poor quality food served them by the officials.

Though no casualties were recorded in the Afikpo riot, female inmates were reportedly raped while some of the officials sustained minor injuries.

In Abakaliki prisons, the inmates allegedly snatched a rifle from one of the guards in the prison yard and purportedly shot some of the prison officials which provoked the officials into retaliation.

The riot which resulted in high casualties on the part of the inmates and the prison officials reportedly killed the leader of the inmates who allegedly incited the inmates against the officials.

The Ebonyi state Comptroller of Prison, Mrs Emilia Oputa, confirmed the report, stating that three persons were injured in the process but denied knowledge of any death or snatching of guns of prison guards by the inmates.



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