Suspected Boko Haram attack frees hundreds of prisoners in Nigeria

Inmates on the run after gunmen armed with explosives attack prison near capital Abuja

Hundreds of prisoners including scores of detained terrorists were on the run in Nigeria after suspected Boko Haram militants attacked a prison near the capital, Abuja.

Gunmen armed with explosives blasted into Kuje medium-security prison, on the outskirts of Abuja at about 10pm on Tuesday, freeing 600 of the prison's 994 inmates, government officials said.