NIAMEY: Two prison guards were killed and three more were wounded in Niger’s capital Niamey yesterday during what government officials said was a failed escape attempt by Islamist militants serving terms on terrorism charges.
Local residents said shooting began at around 3 pm near the entrance to the prison, which houses over 600 inmates.
“Three inmates convicted of conspiracy to commit terrorism attempted a mass escape. They attacked the prison guards who returned fire. Two guards were killed and three were wounded,” state prosecutor Moussa Waziri told journalists.
A government spokesman said all three of the inmates had been captured alive.
REUTERS
