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Residents around Oko Community were woken up by heavy Shooting and explosions which occurred at the medium Prisons in the early hours of Sunday, forcing many families to abandon their homes.
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Armed men according to sources confirmed ?that the incident occurred at about 1:30am as the attackers used explosives believed to be bombs to force open one of the prison gates while sporadic gunshots rented the air throughout the period the operation lasted.
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Prison officials and policemen were said to have responded, engaging the invaders in a shootout but they were over-powered by the superior weapons the attackers, who ?came in a Coaster bus had.
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Relatives and family members of inmates besieged the prison when the news spread around the State capital, even as armed security men condoned the prison premises as they turned away visitors and journalists.
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Unconfirmed reports have it that many prisoners escaped in the violent attack while about 12 inmates were said to have been repressed.
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Edo State Controller of Prisons, Ewulo F. O. when contacted on telephone, confirmed the incident but quickly added that the incident is being investigated.
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On his part, Edo State Police Public Relation Officer, Anthony Airhuoyo , said the State command is yet to be briefed by the Divisional Police Officer, (DPO) in charge of the area.