Kuje Medium Prison on Tuesday night came under heavy attack by unknown gunmen, throwing the entire area Council into confusion.
Security forces were however able to retake the facility, even as confusion remains over those behind the attack or their motive.
There are reports that a number of inmates might have escaped from the facility during the attack, but this has not been independently confirmed.
A spokesperson for the Nigerian interior ministry said security forces had “taken control of the situation’’ without giving details, the BBC reported.
Dateline Nigeria reports that the sound of sporadic gunshots has left the residents scampering for safety.
A prison staff, who confirmed the attack in a chat with Daily Sun, explained that the attackers had come from the back of the prison yard.
A resident of the area, Joshua Friday, told Daily Sun correspondent that the shootings have been ongoing for the last 20 minutes.
He said the situation has caused panic in the area.
