Protesting hoodlums on Thursday invaded Ikoyi Correctional Centre in Lagos State and set it on fire.
This was just as an attempt to break into the jail and free prisoners was foiled by the army, police and other law enforcement agents.
The burning of the correctional facility was carried out about 24 hours after some publicly-owned companies and infrastructure were destroyed by fire ignited by suspected protesting hoodlums in some areas in the state.
Among the companies and organisations destroyed on Wednesday were TV Continental (TVC), The Nation Newspapers, Lagos State Television, BRT buses, commercial banks and police stations.
Smoke could be seen billowing from difertent parts of the correctional centre while the protesting hoodlums were seen running.
But the military, police operatives, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence (NSCDC), military men and officers of the Federal Fire Service had taken over the facility to maintain law and order and to prevent massive jailbreak.
The security operatives were said to have dispersed the hoodlums, as gunshots could be heard from a viral video recording.
Confirming the incident, the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said that the police had yet to ascertain the cause of the fire, but disclosed that police operatives had been deployed to the correctional facility.
“We are there on the ground. We have mobilised our men (police) to the place. We will give details later,” Adejobi stated.
