The prison is close to the palace, and the emir of Bauchi, Muhammadu Rilwanu Suleyman Adamu, reportedly went into hiding shortly after the start of the exchange of gunfire between the assailants, men of the Nigeria police force and prison guards.
Panic
People in the adjoining communities fled their homes shortly after the attack on the prison. Confirming the attack, the Bauchi State police commissioner Danlami Yar’Adua told a foreign news agency that ”the Bauchi central prison was attacked this evening by people believed to be members of Boko Haram in an attempt to free their comrades,” he said, adding “They arrived at the prison and began shooting sporadically to gain access, but we deployed our anti-riot policemen, who engaged them and contained the situation.”
Reports out of Bauchi however say the attackers succeeded in freeing the inmates, and at the time of going to press, sporadic shots could still be heard around the town..
The attack comes after a recent spate of deadly shootings in states across the region which have been blamed on members of the sect who have allegedly been regrouping and stocking-up weapons in a bid to launch another major attack.
Boko Haram which means “Western education is a sin” launched an attack in July 2009 calling for Sharia law to be imposed on the entire country. A military onslaught by the Nigeria army led to the killing of over 700 members of the group including the leader Muhammed Yusuf.
Mr Yusuf’s death in police custody generated a lot of controversy.
