20 not 150 inmates died in Ikoyi Jail attack

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Lagos State Command has denied reports of an account of a witness at an ongoing coroner’s inquest that 150 inmates died in the attack on the Ikoyi Custodial Centre during the #ENDSARS protest of October 2020.According to the Command’s spokesperson, Olurotimi Oladokun, the Ikoyi Custodial Centre came under attack On 22nd October 2022, 20 inmates lost their lives while desperately trying to escape and 8 Correctional Officers sustained various degrees of injuries with some, life-threatening.

He added that, “The invaders who came in large number, engaged the security guards in heavy exchange of fire, encouraging hardened inmates to set the facility on fire in an attempt to cause mass escape. Thankfully, what would have resulted in an unprecedented security breach in Lagos State was professionally rebuffed.”

On Tuesday, October 4, A former inmate, Christian Akara, at least 150 persons were killed by an armed squad during an invasion of the Ikoyi Custodial Centre, Lagos.
Mr Akara gave the testimony before Magistrate A. O. Komolafe of the Lagos Island Coroner Division sitting at Court 4, Surulere Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State.

The coroner’s inquest was to unravel the circumstances that led to the killing of some inmates in the prison on October 22, 2020.
The witness was responding to questions from the 3rd National Vice President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Amanda Demechi-Asagha, who is a counsel for a deceased inmate, Shola Raphael.
The witness said while he was at the custodial centre, he volunteered as a teacher under the Muharam Sisters, a non-governmental organisation, to teach some inmates English Language.

The witness said he saw a number of armed men entering the facility and shooting directly at inmates.

He said the armed squad shot inmates at the centre around 11.59am, adding that no fewer than 150 people lost their lives during the attack.

“I went to Cell D5 for safety because my cell wasn’t safe. After all the shootings, the armed men ordered us to move from Cell D5 to Cell D7 and shot the last person.

“They also shot the governor of Cell D7, Ifeanyi. Some of us were chosen to carry the dead bodies. There were more than 150 dead bodies.

“We observed starvation for two weeks after the invasion. There was no food, and we barely had enough water to drink.”

He identified some of those killed to include one Promise Nnuigwe of Cell B2, one Raphael Olusola of Cell D8, and one Ifeanyi of Cell D7.
When asked why he chose to testify, Mr Akara said, “I want those responsible for the attack to be brought to book.”

The Coroner, Mr Komolafe, adjourned the case till December 19 and 20 for further hearing.