Wia dis foto come from, Reuters
- Author, Emery Makumeno
- Role, BBC News, Kinshasa
One attempt by inmates to break out of one high-security prison for di capital of di Democratic Republic of Congo, Kinshasa, don lead to di deaths of 129 pipo, di authorities tok.
Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani tok say 24 prisoners bin die from bullet wounds afta dem fire warning shots for di early hours of Monday morning.
Most of di odas die from suffocation sake of stampede during di breakout for Makala Prison.
Despite reports of mass casualties wey come out on Monday, di government bin initially say na only two pipo bin die.
Seven years ago, at least 4,000 inmates bin escape from di same prison – di largest prison for di kontri.
On Monday, pipo wey dey live near di prison bin tok say dem hear gunshots but police officers no allow journalists reach di area as dem block access to di prison.
“Gunshots bin dey sound from 01:00 or 02:00 for morning, and until around 05:00,” Daddi Soso, wey dey live close to di prison, tell AFP news agency.
“Pipo die and some pipo bin run,” e tok, e add say security forces bin dey carry deadi body away.
Graphic videos wey dem share from inside di prison but wey BBC no fit verify bin show dead bodies for ground and pipo wey dey shout for help as di stampede dey occur.
Oga Shabani bin post one video on X, formerly Twitter, around 24 hours afta di attempted breakout, wey show di extent of di incident and di death toll.
E add say almost 60 odas injure seriously and dem don carry dem go hospital.
“Dis also na opportunity to hail all di security services, di national police, plus di army, wey quickly respond and contain di situation, as dem prevent di escape,” e tok.
“Many things spoil, including loss of life, injuries and especially material damage for di central prison.
“Unfortunately, di administration and registry offices catch fire. These na urgent situations and we currently dey address dem.”
Rights groups don call for international investigation into wetin happun.
Footage from di aftermath of di attempted breakout appear to show huge hole inside one brick wall, buildings wey burn and one office wey scata and paper scata for floor, firemen dey work for di site.
Dem build Makala Prison from di 1950s, e get capacity of 1,500 prisoners, but na more dan 14,000 inmates dey there, AFP report.
For 2020, BBC bin follow one prison official tok, e bin describe how pipo dey die for there becos of di poor conditions – including food shortages and lack of hygiene.
At di time, e dey estimated say only 6% of di prisoners actually dey serve sentences – di rest bin dey stuck for DR Congo legal system wia cases fit drag on for years.
Di justice minister don promise to intensify efforts to decongest prisons across di kontri.