Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has confirmed the death of two security agents in the state during the attack on a correctional facility in Oyo town.
The two security agents included a corporal of the Nigerian Army attached to Operation Burst, and an operative of Oyo State Security Network Agency also known as Amotekun Corps.
Afr had earlier reported how suspected gunmen attacked one of the facilities of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS), in Oyo State.
The correctional facility, which was named as Abolongo correctional center and located in Oyo town was attacked Friday evening.
The facility which was established in 2007 has the capacity to accommodate only 160 inmates, but was housing a total of 907 inmates when it was attacked.
It was gathered that the gunmen, during the attack set all the awaiting trial persons free.
Spokesman of Nigeria Correctional Service (NCS) in the State, Olanrewaju Anjorin, has said that a total of 262 awaiting trial persons have been recaptured.
He added that 575 inmates are still at large.
It was later gathered that a corporal with the Nigerian Army and an operative of Amotekun who were on duty lost their lives during the attack.
Another Amotekun operative, a female is currently at the University College Hospital receiving treatment.
It was gathered that the Amotekun operative is in a critical condition.
The state Governor, Seyi Makinde confirmed the death of the two security agents who died during the attack.
Makinde, while speaking called for calm.
He stated that security agencies in the state have been put on high alert.
Makinde, who stated this in a state broadcast aired on the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), Saturday night, said the government has directed the security agencies to deploy personnel to critical national assets within the state and to monitor all entrances and exit points across the state.
He said that he had earlier visited another Amotekun Corp, Shukurat Omoba, who was injured in the attack.
‘I am addressing you today to update you about recent happenings affecting the security of our state. Last night, security operatives responded to a distress call about a jailbreak in the Abolongo Correctional Centre, Oyo town.’
‘The correctional facility had been attacked with explosives, and some inmates were set free. Our security men were ambushed. As a result, we lost two of our security agents – A corporal of the Nigerian Army attached to Operation Burst, and an Operative of the Oyo State Amotekun Corps’.
‘Aside from the two lives lost, we had several operatives injured. I must mention that one of our Amotekun female volunteers, Shukurat Omoba, is presently in critical condition.’
‘I have visited her at the hospital, and we are deploying all state resources to ensure that she survives this. Please, let us all join in prayer for her speedy and complete recovery.’
‘Although, some inmates have been recovered and taken back into custody, some are still at large. All security agencies have been placed on high alert to ensure that all that escaped are rearrested and returned to custody.’
‘I am, therefore, using this opportunity also to put the citizens on alert. There is no better time to repeat the call to action: if you see something, please say something. These criminals would want to go to areas where they will not be easily rearrested. If you spot any unexplained strangers in your community, please call the 615-security emergency number immediately, and make a report.’
‘I have directed the security agencies to deploy personnel to critical national assets within the state and to monitor all entrance and exit points across the state.’
He added that the state is deploying all resources to ensure that she survives the situation, while also urging residents to join in prayers for her speedy recovery.
AFRICA TODAY NEWS, NEW YORK