By Edna-UCLIQ
On Tuesday, Interior Minister Jacquemain Shabani delivered grim news about the weekend prison break. “The provisional human toll is 129 dead,” he announced in a video message.
“This includes 24 who were shot after warnings.” The violence occurred at Makala prison, the largest jail in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Shabani also revealed, “At least 59 others have been wounded.” His report highlighted the severity of the incident. “Several people were crushed or suffocated,” he said.
“A number of women were raped.” The shocking details painted a harrowing picture of the prison break attempt.
Witnesses shared disturbing accounts of the chaos. Gunfire erupted at around 2:00 am on Monday morning. “The shooting lasted for several hours,” they reported. The scene was filled with panic and confusion.
Daddi Soso, an electrician in his 40s, described the aftermath. “Security force vehicles were taking bodies away,” he said. His observations in the early hours of Monday reflected the scale of the disaster.
The authorities did not immediately provide details on how many inmates had escaped or attempted to escape. The lack of information left many questions unanswered.
By mid-morning, government spokesman Patrick Muyaya addressed the public. “The situation is under control,” he stated on national television. His reassurance was intended to calm fears but did not fully address the extent of the crisis.
The weekend prison break at Makala prison was one of the deadliest in recent memory. The violence and loss of life were significant. The chaos left a deep impact on the capital and its residents. The government’s response and management of the aftermath remained closely watched by the public.
