About 40 inmates at Damaturu prison Sunday escaped from their cells when unknown gunmen raided the prison with explosive devices.

The state commissioner of police, Patrick Egbuniwe, who confirmed the incident said the gunmen  threw explosives at the prison gates and shot at prison guards before making their way into the jail.

Mr Egbuniwe also said his command suspected the gunmen to be members of the extremist Boko Haram sect who raided the prison to free some of their members in jail.

“The sect members entered the prison through the emir’s palace and freed 40 persons,” Mr. Egbuniwe said. “They were confronted by the military but they carried away their members shot by the military.”

The attack is coming a week after the town was locked down after members of the sect engaged the Joint Task Force, JTF in a gun duel for more than 24 hours leading to the death of about 40 people.