Niger jailbreak: Inmates escape from prison that holds jihadists

Authorities impose curfew in the volatile Tillaberi region after inmates escape from a major prison.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersPrisoners escape from Niger jail that holds jihadists9 hours agoBy Chris Ewokor & Wycliffe Muia, BBC News, Abuja and Nairobi ShareAFPThe previous attempted jailbreak at Koutoukale prison was repelled in 2019 Authorities in Niger have declared a curfew in the volatile Tillaberi region after several prisoners escaped from a heavily fortified jail known to hold jihadists.

The incident occurred on Thursday at Koutoukale prison located about 50 kilometres (30 miles) north-west of the capital, Niamey, the interior ministry said.

Two other attempted jailbreaks at the facility - in 2016 and 2019 - were repelled.

Niger's armed forces are stretched by jihadist attacks in the west and protecting the junta which took power in last year's coup.

The ministry did not specify in its statement how many prisoners managed to escape in the latest jailbreak.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c19k89zxjj2o

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