By Peter Duru & Esther Onyegbula

MAKURDI—AN inmate of Jato Aka Medium Prison, Kwande Local Government Area of Benue State was, Sunday evening, gunned down by herdsmen, triggering protests by other inmates.

Consequently, the authorities of Benue State Prisons Command were forced to evacuate the inmates to Gboko Medium Prison to forestall break down of law and order.

Vanguard gathered from an indigene of the area that the inmate had gone to a nearby stream to take his bath and also fetch water for his personal use.

Armed Fulani-herdsmen

The source said, “while the middle-aged prisoner was at the river, some herdsmen in the area shot him and fled. He died before the prison warden, who went with him, could get help.”

Vanguard gathered that the killing of the prisoner sparked angry protest from other inmates over his death, the poor condition of the prison facilities and the treatment being meted out to them.

A source told Vanguard: “The protest forced authorities to evacuate inmates to Gboko Medium Prison.”