2 guards wounded, 93 detainees escaped in Niono prison attack

Two prison guards were wounded and 93 detainees escaped during an attack on Niono prison on Tuesday morning in the region of Segou, 240 km north of Mali's capital city Bamako, Xinhua learned from a source who preferred to remain anonymous.

The attack took place at 1:15 a.m. (local time) and was carried out by five unidentified armed men.

Among the escaped prisoners is Dagaba Dicko, who is prosecuted for diversion of 47 million CFA Francs (77,000 U.S. dollars). Two motorcycles belonging to the prison guards were taken away, the source said.

After their attack, the armed men took the direction of Molodo, 7 km from the city of Niono, another source who works at a private Niono radio said.

"The attack has not yet been claimed, but we suspect the Macina Liberation Front of Amadou Kouffa is behind this," said a security source who also requested anonymity.

On Nov. 7, heavily armed assailants attacked the prison of Banamba, during which 21 prisoners escaped. The attack was later claimed by Ansar Dine of Iyad Ag Ghali.

source: Xinhua