Updated: Security Operatives Foil Attempt To Free Inmate At Lagos Court

The incident happened on Monday at the Lagos State High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), when a man, suspected to be an associate of the inmate, attempted to free him.

An eyewitness said the man was shot while trying to interact with some of the inmates in the Black Maria.

THEWILL however, gathered that after the man was shot on the leg, information got to the suspected hoodlums, who swiftly mobilized and came to barricade the entrance of the court after which they deflated the tyres of the Black Maria.

Their actions caused panic and made all the sitting judges end their proceedings abruptly. Registrars and litigants also took to their heels.

Policemen from the nearby Kamsalem area were later drafted to the court to keep the peace.

Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Lagos State Command, CSC. Rotimi Oladokun, who confirmed the incident, said the suspect, was shot in his leg by NCS operatives who foiled the escape attempt.

In a press statement on Monday, Oladokun said: “Persons suspected to be associates of an inmate taken to the Lagos High Court for hearing, staged an attack on the escort personnel with an attempt to forcefully release the inmate while at the premises of the Court. However, the quick response and vigilance of the NCoS court escorts thwarted their effort.

“A security reinforcement was immediately deployed to the court premises to prevent a breakdown of law and order. And All inmates have been successfully returned into secure custody of the Correctional Service.

“During the ensuing melee, one of the attackers’ was shot while trying to dispossess an armed personnel of his rifle.”