Gunmen on Thursday opened fire on correctional centre officials as they brought 10 violent crime suspects to court in Plateau State.
The gunmen took away six suspects, preventing them from standing trial for the charges preferred against them.
The incident happened in Barkin Ladi as a convoy of vehicles brought the suspects from Jos into the High Court premises.
The suspects were charged with kidnapping, murder, rape, and cattle rustling, among other offences.
An eyewitness said the gunmen, suspected to be herdsmen, took away the six suspects unchallenged.
An eyewitness said that, as convoy arrived at the court premises, the gunmen who had laid ambush by the court entrance opened fire on the officials’ convoy, and released the suspects.
It was gathered that none of the four armed guards accompanying the convoy returned fire.
The state Commandant of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Mr. S.A. Musa, has briefed the Commissioner of Police, Edward Egbuka on the development.
Musa said the court had not notified him of a change in hearing date.
Four suspects have been arrested in connection with the attack, police said.
In Kano, police yesterday paraded 392 suspected armed robbers and kidnappers terrorising the state and its environs.
Commissioner of Police Habu Sani, who briefed newsmen, said the suspects comprised robbers, kidnappers, thugs, vehicle snatchers, drug dealers and fraudsters, among others.
Several arms, vehicles, phones, cash and charms were recovered during the combined arrests which began in May.
Police recovered many vehicles, tricycles, motorcycles, AK47 rifles, single- and double-barrel guns, and pistols, among other weapons.
Also recovered were 587 parcels and wraps of Indian hemp valued at N3.8 million, 14 cartons of Codeine expectorants valued at N1.1 million.
Police said, during one of the raids, Ibrahim Isyaku popularly known as Kawu, 35, and Ahmadu Isyaku a.k.a Shiddi, 45, were apprehended in a house at Rantan Village, Bebeji local government area of the state.
The police also arrested a 60-year-old woman in connection with some criminal activity.