Aljazeera
NIGER, W. Africa — Three prison guards have been killed and three wounded in Niger’s capital Niamey during what government officials said was a failed escape attempt by fighters convicted of terrorism charges.
Saturday’s gun battle in the city centre came just a week after al Qaeda-linked groups raided a uranium mine and an army barracks, raising fears that the conflict in neighbouring Mali could spread to other West African states.
Local residents said shooting began at around 3pm local time (1500 GMT) near the entrance to the prison, which houses over 600 inmates including Nigerian Boko Haram fighters and members of other armed Muslim groups.
The attack was carried out by “four individuals detained at the civilian prison of Niamey and prosecuted for terrorism”, Marou Amadou, justice minister, told AFP news agency.
Full story: Prison inmates kill guards in Niger