Warrap State authorities reported that 57 inmates escaped from Ayen Abiel prison in Twic County of Warrap State over the weekend. Official statements indicate that armed youth suspected to have come from Majook Noon payam attacked the prison at night, breaking the prison gates and facilitating the escape of the prisoners.
Of the fifty-seven escaped inmates, twenty-two have been recaptured along the border of Abyei and Kuajok town and are currently in police custody.
Major General John Machar Aweer, the Director of Prisons for Warrap State, told Radio Tamazu that efforts are underway to locate the remaining escaped prisoners in villages and towns.
“This incident occurred on Sunday last week in Twic County at the Ayen Abiel prison. Members of the Tit-Weng (Cattle Defense Force) attacked the prison, apprehended the prison warden, tied him up, and took his gun. They then fired shots where the police slept, but fortunately, no one was injured during the incident, and a total of 57 inmates escaped,” he said.
He added, “The Tit-Weng force used an axe to break the padlock, allowing 57 inmates to escape alongside armed youth suspected to belong to Majook Noon payam. This is the sequence of events, and ongoing searches and investigations are currently in progress.”
“We have successfully apprehended 22 inmates, but 35 are still missing. Our search efforts are ongoing, and the commissioner has established a committee comprising security and administrative personnel to track down the remaining escaped inmates.”
Machar mentioned that the county commissioner has instructed the chief of Majook Noon to recover the gun taken during the armed youth’s attack on the prison and holds him responsible for the incident.
Meanwhile, Simon Aguek, the Twic County commissioner, confirmed the situation, stating, “A group of criminals broke into the prison on the night of December 3, allowing 57 inmates to escape. I formed a committee to investigate and identify the criminals, and it appears that the attackers are still within Twic County.”
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