Jail break in Central Nigerian state linked to Boko Haram

Over 100 prisoners have escaped a Nigerian prison in a devastating jailbreak that appears to have been orchestrated by Boko Haram gunmen.

Reports estimate that gunmen using dynamite to blast open the walls of the prison have freed between 132 and 140 inmates from Koton-Karfi Prison, Kogi state, central Nigeria in an attack on Sunday 2nd November.

The Abuja Times claimed local residents heard heavy gunfire and artillery fire when they prison break began at roughly 10pm. One resident claims the gunfire lasted for hours as soldiers attempted to shut down the escape.

A similar break occurred at same prison three years ago. Boko Haram were widely suspected as being behind the previous attack, however, this was disputed by the government at the time.