As stated by a source, the assailants, who were stated to have besieged the place about 10.30 pm yesterday, killed a prison official on guard, bombed the main gate with the aid of a rocket launcher and dynamite. All the 20 sniffer dogs tied in front of the gate were also killed. The gunmen numbered about 60. Reliable sources stated the gunmen arrived in Hilux trucks, brandishing dangerous weapons such as cudgels, cutlasses, AK 47 rifles, charms and chanted 'Allahu Akbar' as they shot sporadically into the air.
A source added that the gunshots and the bombing were so deafening that the inmates had to run in different directions to prevent being mowed down by the gun-wielding assailants.
Early Monday morning, a statement aired on the state radio station had alleged that the action was carried out by APC thugs to free a leader of Oodua People's Congress, Niyi Adedipe, who was imprisoned on the order of the Court for alleged murder of a former chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Chief Omolafe Aderiye.
APC has however denied the allegation, describing it as another ploy by the PDP to tarnish the image of the APC in Ekiti State. The Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Taiwo Olatubosun, who spoke via telephone said: "What shall we gain for doing that. We cannot do such things. It is not in our character to do such things."