Gunmen suspected to be bandits attacked and bombed a custodial centre located in Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory late Tuesday night and freed inmates.
the later update that emerged, the source said the attackers used three bombs and forcibly gained control of four entry and exit points.
The prison facility came under attack around 10:27 p.m and lasted for about 20 minutes with sporiadic gun shots and bomb explosions.
High profile criminals, apprehended Boko Haram terrorists, armed robbers among otherd are held in the prison. The Nigeria corecetional services told newsmen that up to 600 hardened criminals were freed during the attack.
Three weeks ago, several high profile terrorists were relocated to Kuje prison, a prison source said.
The prison, which is 47 kilometres to the Presidential Villa, and 24 kilometres to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport holds at least 1000 inmates.
The Department of State Security Services had received intelligence reports of the high possibility of an attack.