Liberia: 100 inmates break jail

  1. Posted on Wednesday 3 December 2008 - 10:09
    Murtala
    Image of Murtala
    Murtala Mohammed Kamara, AfricaNews reporter in Freetown, Sierra Leone
    Over 100 inmates forcefully broke and escaped from jail in Liberia's only maximum prison, South Beach compound, in the capital Monrovia on Tuesday. Media reports say the escapees were armed robbers who were separated from the other prisoners. Prison officials said the inmates overpowered them.
    jail
    A prison guard told Reuters how the prisoners made their way out of jail. "We do not have weapons; Over a hundred prisoners marched outside to push the gate open by force. We could not control them ... They overpowered us." Another injured police officer added "they came in their numbers. As they came, they started throwing stones, sticks and bottles. We had to give way for them to leave,"

    The prisoners whom were charge and awaiting court appearance had earlier warned prison guards that they would not spend Christmas in prison. Latest report said out of the 100 escapees 30 had already been recaptured whiles the Liberian Police Force is still searching for the rest.

    South Beach is home to more than 900 inmates, the prison is guarded by Nepalese personnel of the United Nation Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and unarmed Liberian police.

    Liberia is just recovering from a brutal civil war which lasted more than 14 years. After the war the country has witnessed an increase in armed robbery and other serious crimes.

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