No fewer than 15 inmates were believed to have escaped from Nsukka Prison in Enugu State in a jail-break that occurred on Tuesday night.

A reliable source at the prison who pleaded anonymity told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Nsukka on Wednesday that the inmates broke their cells and scaled over the perimeter fence.

“The inmates carefully opened their cells and scaled the perimeter fence of the prisons. Before prison officials on night duty knew what was happening, about 15 inmates had escaped,” the source said.

Controller of the prison, Lawrence Okonkwo, confirmed the jailbreak but declined to give the number of inmates that escaped.

“Yes there was a jail break last night in Nsukka prison but I am not in a position to say how many prisoners escaped. We are expecting the Enugu state Prisons Controller, Isaiah Amariri, in Nsukka prison so that we brief him on what happened last night. He will be the one to tell the public the number of inmates that escaped, rearrested ones, and efforts put in place to arrest those still on the run,” he said.

However unconfirmed reports say that two escapees had been rearrested.

NAN gathered that officials of the Nigeria Prisons Service were seen in parts of Nsukka and its environs searching for fleeing inmates on Wednesday. (NAN)