Nigerian police searching for 680 escapees

The police in Nigeria are now searching for 680 inmates who escaped from a prison in the northern region of the country after gunmen attacked the facility.



The police say the prison was attacked on Tuesday by about 200 suspected members of an Islamic sect called Boko Haram.



Authorities say the attack triggered a massive gun battle.



They say a member of the police force was killed and two prison officials injured during the incident.



A police spokesperson says the group freed 721 inmates, but 35 of the escapees have since been re-captured.



The police suspect that the prison was attacked because it was holding 80 members of the Islamic sect.