About 240 inmates at the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) in Kabba, Kogi State, have escaped from jail following an attack on the facility by yet to be identified heavily armed gunmen.

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) spokesman, Mr Francis Enobore confirmed the incident in a communique on Monday, stating that the attack took place at about midnight on Sunday.

According to him, the attackers in their numbers arrived at the custodial centre heavily armed and immediately engaged the guards in a fierce gun battle.

Mr Enobore further disclosed that the Comptroller–General, Haliru Nababa has ordered a recapture procedure to be activated immediately and detailed investigation carried out even as he leads a team to assess the situation.

The Comptroller-General also appealed to the general public to furnish security operatives with useful intelligence that will assist in recapturing the escapees.

The gang reportedly used explosives to destroy three sides of the perimeter fence of the facility that held 294 inmates at the time of the attack.

Meanwhile, some of the inmates have reportedly turned themselves back in, and authorities are on the hunt to immediately recover those that remain at large.