The Nigerian State Security Service (SSS) has said that at least, 20 suspected Boko Haram detainees have been killed in an attempted jailbreak at the prison headquarters.

The prison headquarters is very close to the residence of President Goodluck Jonathan who local reporters say was in the palace at the time of the incident.

The incident was said to have happened when the Boko Haram suspect detainees overpowered their guards in the prison, seizing a rifle which triggered a gun battle between prison guards and the suspects. One security guard was reportedly to have been killed while two others sustained serious injuries.

Nigerian State Security Service spokeswoman, Marilyn Ogar told reporters that the incident was an attempted jailbreak and that the military was deployed to quell the unrest.

“What happened was that the suspects’ handlers went to feed the detainees here but suddenly they attacked him with their handcuffs, disarmed him and started shooting, the military was quickly called in before they could do any harm and that is responsible for the shootings you heard, it was an attempted jailbreak but it has been brought under control”, she told reporters.

There were concerns of President Jonathan’s safety due to the proximity nature of the prison facility to the presidential palace but spokesman for the President, Reuben Abati described the incident as an attempted jailbreak in a post on his Twitter page.

He further said the situation was under control and that President Goodluck Jonathan was safe and well and nobody should panic.

Local reporters say many of those detained in that prison facility are suspected members of Boko Haram who are awaiting trial.

Jail breaks by the militants in Nigeria are common as an al-Qaeda linked group called Ansaru also based in northern Nigeria claimed a courageous jail break at the Special Anti-Robbery Squad headquarters in Abuja in November 2012. They freed dozens of prisoners which triggered concerns about the ability of the security service to handle the militants.

Both the UK and United States have blacklisted Boko Haram as a terrorist organization making their laws and regulatory agencies to block business and financial transactions with Boko Haram.

The number of casualties Nigeria is recording as a result of Boko Haram attacks this year alone is alarming and political analysts say it is the biggest security threat in Nigeria and the rest of Africa if nothing is done by the international community. The militants have killed more than 5,000 people since it began its militancy in 2009.

The French and the US governments have all pledged to help Nigeria put the brakes on Boko Haram but nothing substantial has come out of the pledge as civilians continue to die day in and day out.

Issaka Adams / NationalTurk Africa News

Writer’s Email Address: Adamsisska@googlemail.com