At the high-security Koutoukale prison in the Niger Republic, there was a mass jailbreak that resulted in the escape of hundreds of prisoners, including terrorists from Boko Haram and Al Qaeda.
The tragedy happened on Thursday in the region of Tillaberi, which is around 50 kilometres northwest of Niamey, the capital.
The escape has raised doubts about Niger’s military’s ability to fend off terrorist threats, especially given how overburdened they are now defending the junta that was overthrown in a coup last year and defending against strikes in the west.
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The prison, which is close to the capital city of Niamey, was the site of a violent rebellion that overpowered guards and allowed inmates to escape with weapons and vehicles, according to Zagazola Makama, a counter-insurgency expert in the Lake Chad region.
Around lunchtime, gunfire and explosions were reported within the prison, citing eyewitnesses, which prompted security personnel to act quickly. But the prisoners had already taken over the prison, breaching barbed wire, trenches, and armoured gates.
In the meantime, the ministry did not say in its statement how many inmates were freed during the most recent jailbreak.
The Interior Minister has confirmed the escape and asked village heads and religious leaders to report any suspicious persons in a radio transmission to all governors.
As a result, all motor vehicle, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic in the Tillaberi region is restricted by a curfew.
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Detainees from the West African nation’s fight with armed groups affiliated with al Qaeda and the Islamic State and suspected Boko Haram insurgents are among the prisoners at the facility, according to Reuters.
Furthermore, the unrest in Niger, its neighbour Mali, and Burkina Faso—all of which are ruled by the military and dealing with an upsurge in jihadist attacks—is exacerbated by this most recent jailbreak.
An attack by jihadist organisations suspected of having ties to Al Qaeda occurred in the Tillaberi district on Monday, leaving 14 soldiers dead, 11 injured, and 24 unaccounted for.
Over three million people have been displaced by the region’s ongoing insurgencies, which have claimed thousands of lives and created a dire humanitarian situation.
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