A combined team of security personnel in Abia on Thursday foiled an attempt by hoodlums to break into the Afara Custodial Centre, Umuahia.
A senior officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the command was alerted by authorities of the centre, located in the same neighbourhood that protesters were threatening to attack the centre.
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He said that the operatives mingled with the hoodlums, who were plotting to attack the centre in order to set the inmates free.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the NSCDC personnel said that the command immediately deployed its men to reinforce the armed squad of the centre to ward off the protesters.
“Our men barricaded the Golden Guinea Breweries end of the Aba Road to restrict vehicular and human movements, while the police and army blocked the point of the road leading to Old Timber shed.”
He further said that the operation to disperse the group was still on, saying that the security operatives were still shooting into the air and firing teargas at the group.
“Whenever we notice that they have regrouped, we use teargas and also fire some shots into the air to disperse them.
“The operation will continue as long as the protest persists,” the source said.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Godfrey Ogbonna, confirmed the plot to attack the Custodial Centre to NAN, saying, “the police collaborated with other sister-security agencies to foil the attempt.” (NAN)
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