The Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS) says it foiled an attempt by armed bandits to free 18 prisoners from the court duty vehicle which was conveying them to court in Sokoto.

A statement released on Wednesday by Bello Farouk, the spokesperson of the Nigeria Prisons Service in Sokoto State said the miscreants who were armed with dangerous weapons were repelled by a combined team of the Nigeria Police and Armed Squad personnel of the Nigeria Prisons.

The statement read: “An attack on a prisons court duty vehicle conveying 18 awaiting trial persons in Sokoto prison to court by some miscreants has been foiled by officers of the Prisons Armed Squad and the Police.

“The hoodlums, armed with machetes and other dangerous weapons, attempted to set free the inmates being taken to court along Sultan Abubakar Road, Sokoto at about 10.a.m.

“This, was however repelled as officials of the Nigeria Police Force swiftly responded to assist the Nigeria Prisons Armed Squad personnel to resist the attack thus preventing what would have resulted in a major security breach in Sokoto State.

“Meanwhile, the prisoners have been successfully escorted back to safe custody in the prison yard and security beefed up in and around the facility.

“The Controller of Prisons, Sokoto State Command, Haliru Nababa while appreciating the continuous support from sister security organizations wishes to assure the public of adequate safety and human custody of all prisoners in the command in line with the mandate of the Nigeria Prisons Service.”