Mozambique: More than 6000 prisoners have escaped from a maximum-security prison in Maputo, Mozambique. They overpowered the prison guards and seized their AK-47 rifles.
Reportedly, the prisoners escaped as widespread post-election riots and violence continue to engulf the country officials. Thirty-three prisoners out of them all, are said to expected to be dead while having confrontations with the police and the military.
Mozambican Police Chief – Bernardino Rafael said that 6,000 inmates broke out of a maximum-security prison in the capital Maputo after a rebellion on the side lines of violent protests that have seen police cars, stations and general public infrastructure destroyed after the Constitutional Council of the Country has confirmed the ruling Frelimo party as winner of the October 09, 2024 elections.
Reports related to widespread looting of shops were confirmed. The Police said that prisoners at the facility snatched weapons from prison warders and began freeing other detainees.
Over 6,000 prisoners have escaped from a maximum security prison in Maputo, Mozambique.
They reportedly overpowered the prison guards and seized their AK-47 rifles. pic.twitter.com/V4pQ2w9xMv
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) December 25, 2024
Chief Rafael said that a curious fact is the prison 29 has convicted terrorists whom they have released. The officials are worried as a country, as Mozambicans, as members of the defence and security forces.
According to the police chief Bernardino Rafael, the escape from the Maputo Central Prison is located 14 kms south-west of the capital that took place around from mid-day after ‘agitation’ of a group of subversive protesters nearby.
Rafael added that the protests had led to collapse of wall and allowed the prisoners to escape. He said as protesters, they were making noise demanding that they will be able to remove the prisoners who are there serving their sentences.
Furthermore, the confrontation resulted in 33 deaths, in direct confrontation with the prisoners. Fifteen out of them were injured as called for the voluntary surrender of escaping prisoners and for the population to be informed about the fugitives.
Notably, videos related to the same are circulating on social media and showed-up at the moment prisoners escaped from jail. While other recordings were revealed that were captured by military personnel and prison guards.
Many escaped prisoners tried to hide in homes to run but some were unsuccessful in their plan and ended up being detained. One of the prisoners is still with handcuffs on his right wrist and said that in an amateur video, he was in the disciplinary section of the maximum prison and was released by the other prisoners.