Curfew after jailbreak at high-security Niger prison

Several inmates have escaped from a high-security prison near Niger’s capital Niamey housing jihadists and others, sparking a curfew.

The jailbreak at the Koutoukale prison occurred on Wednesday.

Niger’s interior ministry asked local security forces in a radio message to step up security, without specifying the number of fugitives who escaped.

“We ask you upon reception of the present message to alert all search units,” the ministry said.

“Terrorist leaders” are amongst the escapees, according to Nigerian news website Actuniger.com.

The region of Tillaberi, located in the vast and unstable border area of Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso, is prone to attacks by rebels linked to the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda groups.

The interior ministry also asked local authorities to “collaborate with traditional and religious leaders” and to encourage “the population to report any suspicious individual.”

Tillaberi officials on Thursday imposed a curfew and closed the area to pedestrians, motorcycles and vehicles from 9:00 pm (2000 GMT).

The Koutoukale prison has been attacked twice recently.

Niger is ruled by a military junta that seized power in a July 2023 coup, citing a worsening security situation as justification for the power grab.