Abuja: A shootout at Nigeria's State Security Services headquarters near the presidential villa killed at least 18 people today, a government spokeswoman said of what appears to be an attempted jailbreak by Islamic extremists.
Residents described shooting that went on for two hours on Sunday morning.
Security services spokeswoman Marilyn Ogar tried to minimize the event, saying it involved one detainee who tried to disarm a guard by hitting him on the back of his head with his handcuffs.
Ogar's statement said the only shots fired were warnings by guards and soldiers who quickly deployed around the perimeter of the compound, fearing collaborators from the outside.
Later today Ogar reported 18 deaths - but did not specify if the fatalities included security agents and soldiers. Residents described a shootout that began at about 7 a.m. when detainees are served breakfast, and continued until after 9 a.m.
"Whatever this is, it appears more serious than an attempted jailbreak claimed by the SSS," said a tweet posted by Nasir El-Rufai, a former Cabinet minister who lives in the neighborhood. He said there were exchanges of gunfire and a helicopter gunship hovering overhead.
"What I witnessed with my eyes and heard on Sunday morning was a full-scale battle," tweeted another former Cabinet minister, Femi Fani-Kayode. He said he lives 50 meters from the state security headquarters and the presidential villa called Aso Rock.
Agents at the scene said a detainee received a smuggled pistol along with his breakfast, and used it to shoot a guard who had unlocked his handcuffs so he could eat. It was unclear if the guard survived. The agents spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to reporters.
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