Breaking: Riot In Kuje Prison In Abuja, Inmates Being Teargassed, Live Bullets Fired Into Cells

Gun shots and tear gas were fired indiscriminately at Like Prison in Abuja, solicitors to Charles Okah said Monday ..

But the Controller of Prisons FCT Command, Daniel Odharo says some inmates tried to resist the regular cell-search which led to an altercation between the search party and the inmates.

“This was quickly put under effective control. No prisoner was injured, no property damaged and the yard is calm and peaceful.”

His statement sent to NewsWireNGR reads, “At about 1000hrs on Monday 29th August, 2016, staff of Kuje Prison carried out a routine cell-search which is a part of the Prisons operational guidelines to prevent breach of security within and around the prisons.”

Charles Okah from the Niger Delta has been in detention at the prison.

A statement by Timipa Jenkins Okponipere for First Law Solicitors said “It is our clients’ brief that Kuje Prison is currently under attack from members of the Nigerian Prisons Service Armed Squad who are indiscriminately firing gun-shots and tear gas into the air.”

The statement reads: “We are Solicitors to CHARLES TONBRAH OKAH, in particular, and the entire inmates of Kuje Medium Security Prison in Abuja (whom we shall hereinafter, collectively refer to as “our clients”)

“It is our clients’ brief that Kuje Prison is currently under attack from members of the Nigerian Prisons Service Armed Squad who are indiscriminately firing gun-shots and tear gas into the air.

“This has created pandemonium and violated the fundamental rights of the inmates, particularly, Mr. Charles Okah who has a known medical history which is incompatible with tear gas, gunshots, etc.

“We are, by virtue of this notice to Nigerians and the international community, particularly, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL and GLOBAL WITNESS, making it clear that the Nigerian Prisons Service is already in breach of the fundamental rights of the inmates of Kuje Prison. Our clients therefore reserve the right to sue and seek redress for the breach.”