Shock As Over 3,000 Prisoners Escape, Dozens Killed

More than 3,000 prisoners are believed to have escaped from the main prison in Democratic Republic of Congo, security sources have told the BBC.Out of the 3000, sources point out that 180 have only been captured.The security sources also said dozens of people were killed during the attack on Makala prison.Ne Muanda Nsemi, leader of the political-religious sect Bundu Dia Kongo, is among those who escaped.A police spokesperson told a local radio station, Radio Okapi, that the prisoners were dangerous, and called for anyone who saw them to tell the authorities.The sources say that around half of the prison’s inmates fled during the attack.Government officials say a police officer and at least five attackers were killed, while several sources say that up to 100 died.Congolese authorities said on Thursday they had recaptured 179 fugitives who broke out of the capital’s main prison, in a mass escape that underscored growing security concerns since President Joseph Kabila refused to step down from power.Police in Kinshasa urged residents in a statement to turn in other fugitives and collaborate with authorities “to avoid the resurgence of criminality in the coming days”."We recovered 179 of the fugitives,” Fidele Mpayi, the mayor of Kinshasa’s Selembao district, where the prison is situated, told Reuters. He said he did not know how many prisoners had escaped.The authorities accuse supporters of Mr Nsemi's supporters of being behind the attack, although the group has denied this.Mr Nsemi is a self-styled prophet seeking to revive the ancient Kongo kingdom.Bundu Dia Kongo is campaigning to restore a monarchy in parts of DR Congo, Congo-Brazzaville, Angola and Gabon.The group mixes Christian and traditional beliefs and practices.