The Damaturu prison break was an attack on the Jimeta prison at Damaturu, the capital of Yobe State in the northeastern Nigeria by 40 gunmen suspected to be members of the terrorist group Boko Haram. The attack is thought to have been a bid to rescue imprisoned members of Boko Haram.[1][2] About 40 prisoners escaped from the prison; seven inmates and one prison warden died.[3] The escaped prisoners were largely members of the insurgent.[4]

Damaturu prison break
Part of Terrorist attack
LocationYobe State, Northeastern Nigeria
Date2 June 2012
TargetJimeta prison, Damaturu
Attack type
Prison break
Deaths8
PerpetratorsBoko Haram
No. of participants
40
Defenders41

Incident

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The incident occurred on the morning of Sunday, 4 June 2012.[5] It was reported that the terrorist attacked the prison through the Emir's palace during curfew hours imposed by the Yobe state government.[6] The entrance of the terrorists drew the attention of the armed prison guards and other security agencies within the prison, resulting in an exchange of gunfire between the Boko Haram and security personnel.[7] The escapees were largely members of the Boko Haram.[8] The prison break resulted in the death of seven prisoners and a prison official, leaving several people injured.[9][10]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Boko Haram prison break: Radical sect frees 40 in Nigeria". Huffington Post. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014.
  2. ^ "BBC News - Nigeria unrest: Inmates escape in Damaturu jail attack". BBC News. 24 June 2012.
  3. ^ "Boko Haram kills eight frees 41 inmates in Damaturu prison attack". Pointblank News. 24 June 2012.
  4. ^ "Boko Haram invades Damaturu Prison, frees 40 prisoners". Vanguard News.
  5. ^ "Boko Haram attacks Damaturu prison, frees 40 inmates". DailyPost Nigeria. 24 June 2012.
  6. ^ "Boko Haram invades Damaturu prison as explosion rocks Bauchi". Thisday. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014.
  7. ^ "How gunmen raided Damaturu Prison". P.M. News Nigeria.
  8. ^ "Prison break: Boko Haram attack Damaturu Prison, free 40 inmates". thenigerianvoice.com.
  9. ^ "Jail break in Damaturu: 40 inmates freed". Sahara Reporters.
  10. ^ "41 inmates flee as suspected Boko Haram gunmen attack Damaturu prison". The Punch - Nigeria's Most Widely Read Newspaper. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014.