By Abu Faisal

CONAKRY, Guinea – After a daring jailbreak orchestrated by a heavily armed commando, former dictator of Guinea, Moussa Dadis Camara, was recaptured and returned to prison on Saturday, according to military officials and his lawyer.

The jailbreak, that resulted in a fierce firefight in the capital, Conakry, also involved at least two other former officials on trial with Camara for a massacre in 2009 during his presidency.

An army spokesperson confirmed to AFP, “Captain Moussa Dadis Camara has been found safe and sound and taken back to prison,” but did not provide details regarding the circumstances of his recapture.

Jocamey Haba, one of Camara’s lawyers, also confirmed to AFP that his client was back in custody. Haba expressed belief that Camara was “kidnapped” and his life was “in danger”, suggesting that his client had not willingly escaped.

Justice Minister Alphonse Charles Wright stated earlier that around 0500 GMT, “heavily armed men” stormed the prison and “managed to leave with four (prisoners)… notably Captain Moussa Dadis Camara.” He added that the country’s borders were subsequently closed.

The military has portrayed the operation as a deliberate attempt to undermine government reforms and assured its relentless allegiance to the current military-led authorities.

An anonymous judicial source revealed that the heavily armed soldiers who arrived at Conakry’s central prison announced that they “had come to free” Camara and seemed to know the location of his cell.

The Justice Minister also confirmed that Colonel Moussa Tiegboro Camara, another of the escapees, had been recaptured. Tiegboro Camara’s lawyer claimed he had managed to escape his “captors”.