EASTERN PROVINCE
 
NGOMA - An inmate at Kibungo District Central Prison, was shot dead by security guards while attempting to flee, authorities said yesterday.  Anastase Simbarikure had attempted the ill fated jail break from the correctional  facility at 1 a.m on Tuesday, which cost him his life. He had been convicted of theft charges and sentenced to eight years.

The deceased had allegedly jumped over the prison gate upon which he attempted his run for dear freedom. But he was immediately trailed by the security guards, who shot him dead as he tried to escape.

The gun shots rocked Ngoma town that is ever calm, at such an hour of the night. Terrified residents were until the following morning still wondering what had happened at the prisons headquarters.

"The disturbances began at about 1 o’clock on Tuesday when we heard gun shots fired. We suspected it was a pistol or similar weapon,” Alfred Mbarushimana, one of the town dwellers said.

Prison authorities said that there have been a number of botched attempts to flee in the last couple of days by those jailed, despite tight security.

"For instance, three prisoners who had escaped were recently brought back- a woman and two men. It is a sad reality that those trying to escape are on petty charges,” Francine Abakundimana, the Director Kibungo central Prison said.

Authorities argued that the dead inmate thought security would be at lax at that time of the night. "Security has been tightened following many attempts to escape,” the Director added.

A visit to the facility shows that although there are no high level surveillance cameras at Kibungo prison, the presence of well trained security guards is enough to manage the situation efficiently.

Kibungo Prison inmates total 2,299, of which 1,156 were charged with Genocide or genocide related crimes. The number of female inmates at the prison stands at 1086.

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