Court officers linked to the escape of 20 prisoners in Ivory Coast

The incident in which about twenty prisoners fled from a courthouse in Abidjan was an escape and not an attack, the state prosecutor of Ivory Coast, Adou Richard Christophe has confirmed.

The escape was organised by armed men wearing masks. Eye witnesses accounted seeing “gangsters” entering the court in costumes and pulling out guns.

Prisoners who had come to the court for a hearing had their cuffs unlocked by members of the gang on gun point.

A statement by the Prosecutor’s office said none of them has been found.

Initial investigation implicates seven prisoners reported to be among the group behind the escape. Some court officials have also been linked with the sacked commanding officer.

On Sunday, at least three prisoners escaped from Gagnoa prison in the West of the country, one of them had been sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Prison breaks associated with mutinies raise concerns over security in Ivory Coast.