One of the inmates in the Nigerian Correctional Service, Eket, Akwa Ibom State was on Friday night allegedly killed by suspected warders manning the centre.

Sources revealed that the deceased, who was yet to be identified, was beaten to death following little misunderstanding with the warders.

However, other inmates having seen what happened, at early hours of Saturday matched out in protest, destroying some facilities in the centre

According to a source who pleaded anonymity, “Over 100 inmates started the protest around 5:30 am on Saturday in the NCS in Eket because of the killing of one of them. They destroyed property’s worth millions of naira including four internal cells.

“The clinic facilities, kitchen, store houses, pantry and other facilities. They condemned the inmates cells, nearly all the facilities were destroyed.”

He added that amidst the pandemonium, some inmates tried to escape but were apprehended by warders and one was shot at the leg, others sustained various degrees of injuries.

He explained that the inmates had put holes on the walls so that they can climb the prison wall to escape but unfortunately none of them escaped.

Meanwhile warders have mounted surveillance on the hospital were the injured inmates are receiving treatments.

“If not for the combined JTF, DSS, Police, detachment of neighbouring personnel in other local government area including Uyo, the inmates would have escaped,” he said.

The Public Relations Officer of NCS in the state, Mr. Josiah Ogbajie, when contacted, said investigation was still ongoing and the command would soon issue a statement on the matter.

(DP)