TheCable

A personnel of the Oyo state security network agency, codenamed Amotekun, died in the attack on the Abolongo medium custodial centre in the state.

More than 500 inmates are said to still be missing, following an attack by gunmen on the facility on Friday.

In an earlier statement, Olanrewaju Anjorin, spokesman of the Oyo custodial centre, said the gunmen who invaded the facility were armed with “sophisticated weapons”.

Aside from the Amotekun operative, an inmate of the facility who was struck by bullet while trying to escape, also died in the attack.

Two security operatives — a military officer attached to the Oyo state joint security anti-crime patrol team also known as ‘Operation Burst’ and another Amotekun personnel — also sustained injuries.

There is heavy security presence at the centre, with officers deployed from various security agencies as well as local vigilante operatives.

TheCable understands that Iskilu Wakili, a Fulani leader who was accused of working with kidnappers in Ibarapa area of Oyo, is one of the inmates at the facility.

It is, however, not clear if he is one of the 575 inmates still missing.

Wakili, described as a “Fulani warlord”, was arrested by the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) and other security operatives in March 2021.

Days after his arrest, an Iyaganku chief magistrate court in Ibadan had ordered that Wakili be remanded in a correctional facility.