Hundreds of inmates at a prison in western Venezuela climbed onto the facility’s roof and set fire to mattresses and sheets during a protest against alleged abuse and shootings by prison guards, according to videos shared by rights groups and media reports.&nbsp;Prisoners at the Barinas Judicial Internment Centre, about 500km from Caracas, demanded the removal of the prison’s director, accusing him of overseeing violence against unarmed inmates. Large plumes of smoke rose from the prison as protesters waved “SOS” banners and chanted “No more torture!” “We want justice. They are shooting us, the guards and the wardens,” a prisoner said in a video circulated by the Venezuelan Observatory of Prisons, a local NGO. The footage reportedly showed a man with a bullet wound to his chest.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rubio-announces-quad-s-new-indo-pacific-maritime-surveillance-initiative-what-is-it-wion-decodes-1779781338805">What is QUAD’s new Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance initiative? WION Decodes</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Venezuelan inmates climbed onto a prison roof in Barinas to protest shootings and abuse by guards, setting mattresses on fire and demanding the prison director’s removal. <a href="https://t.co/B41hPumI7b">pic.twitter.com/B41hPumI7b</a>&mdash; Clash Report (@clashreport) <a href="https://twitter.com/clashreport/status/2058781042304049383?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 25, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Inmates alleged they had been staging a peaceful protest when prison staff opened fire, leaving several people wounded. Venezuelan authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters. The prisoners also claimed they had been stripped of their clothes, denied family visits and subjected to mistreatment inside the facility. Reuters reported that the demonstrators specifically called for the dismissal of recently appointed prison director Elvis Macuare Guerrero.&nbsp;Outside the prison, relatives of inmates clashed with members of Venezuela’s National Guard equipped with riot shields as they tried to prevent officers from entering the facility. Family members told the Venezuelan Observatory of Prisons that they heard screams and explosions shortly afterwards. Yelitza Arrollo, whose son is incarcerated at the prison, told AFP she had not heard from him since 8 May. “They are suffering,” she said outside the prison. “We want the director removed.”&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/america-won-t-have-safe-haven-for-mischief-mojtaba-s-explosive-warning-after-us-attacks-iran-1779781633032">‘Won’t have safe haven for mischief’: Mojtaba’s BIG warning after US attack</a>&nbsp;The Venezuelan Observatory of Prisons said it was documenting the unrest and reporting developments to international human rights organisations. According to the NGO, around 1,200 male inmates and more than 100 female prisoners joined the protest strike. Venezuela’s prison system has faced growing international scrutiny over alleged overcrowding, abuse and human rights violations. The latest unrest comes months after the government, led by interim president Delcy Rodríguez, approved legislation aimed at releasing hundreds of detainees considered political prisoners.

Hundreds of inmates at Venezuela’s Barinas prison rioted on the roof, setting fires to protest alleged guard violence, torture, and poor conditions, while demanding the prison director’s immediate removal.

Hundreds of inmates at a prison in western Venezuela climbed onto the facility’s roof and set fire to mattresses and sheets during a protest against alleged abuse and shootings by prison guards, according to videos shared by rights groups and media reports. Prisoners at the Barinas Judicial Internment Centre, about 500km from Caracas, demanded the removal of the prison’s director, accusing him of overseeing violence against unarmed inmates. Large plumes of smoke rose from the prison as protesters waved “SOS” banners and chanted “No more torture!” “We want justice. They are shooting us, the guards and the wardens,” a prisoner said in a video circulated by the Venezuelan Observatory of Prisons, a local NGO. The footage reportedly showed a man with a bullet wound to his chest. Also read: What is QUAD’s new Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance initiative? WION Decodes

Hundreds of inmates at Venezuela’s Barinas prison rioted on the roof, setting fires to protest alleged guard violence, torture, and poor conditions, while demanding the prison director’s immediate removal.

WATCH: Venezuela prisoners occupy prison, light mattresses in protest of alleged abuse

At least 47 people died and 75 wounded after a prison riot broke out in western Venezuela, a country where NGOs and inmates' families regularly complain of unhygienic&nbsp;conditions, violence and overcrowding in the prisons.&nbsp;

The Venezuelan Prison Observatory (OVP), a rights group provided the figures, which were later confirmed by Parliamentary Deputy Maria Beatriz Martinez.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/this-small-american-country-witnessed-22-prison-homicides-in-one-day-294979">This small American country witnessed 22 prison homicides in one day!</a>

Both OVP and Martinez confirmed that all the dead were detainees.&nbsp;

The riot happened on Friday afternoon at the Los Llanos prison center in Guanare city.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/inmates-in-el-salvador-suffer-as-latin-american-prisons-breed-covid-19-295382">Inmates in El Salvador suffer as Latin American prisons breed COVID-19</a>

An army report on Friday said the incident started when inmates began destroying "the security fences around the perimeter" in a "massive escape attempt." It added the prison's director was wounded in the act.

However, Martinez, who represents the state where the prison is located, refuted this claim, stating the act was staged by a group of inmates "because they did not have access to food."

According to OVP, prison officials opened fire following the incident in the prison which has a capacity for 750 prisoners but some 2,500 are presently behind bars.

The UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCR) on Twitter said it was "gravely concerned" about the incident and requested the officials to carry out a "thorough investigation".&nbsp;

"We urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, tackle overcrowding, and guarantee basic rights," the UNOHCR said.

Venezuela's prisons are infamous for severe violence and poor conditions of the prisoners.

As many as 97 deaths occurred in Venezuelan prisons in 2019, 70 per cent of which were due to diseases such as tuberculosis and inadequate supply of medicines, according to OVP.&nbsp;

 
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At least 47 people died and 75 wounded after a prison riot broke out in western Venezuela, a country where NGOs and inmates' families regularly complain of unhygienic conditions, violence and overcrowding in the prisons.

At least 47 people died and 75 wounded after a prison riot broke out in western Venezuela, a country where NGOs and inmates' families regularly complain of unhygienic conditions, violence and overcrowding in the prisons. The Venezuelan Prison Observatory (OVP), a rights group provided the figures, which were later confirmed by Parliamentary Deputy Maria Beatriz Martinez. Also read | This small American country witnessed 22 prison homicides in one day! Both OVP and Martinez confirmed that all the dead were detainees. The riot happened on Friday afternoon at the Los Llanos prison center in Guanare city. Also read | Inmates in El Salvador suffer as Latin American prisons breed COVID-19 An army report on Friday said the incident started when inmates began destroying "the security fences around the perimeter" in a "massive escape attempt." It added the prison's director was wounded in the act. However, Martinez, who represents the state where the prison is located, refuted this claim, stating the act was staged by a group of inmates "because they did not have access to food." According to OVP, prison officials opened fire following the incident in the prison which has a capacity for 750 prisoners but some 2,500 are presently behind bars. The UN's Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNOHCR) on Twitter said it was "gravely concerned" about the incident and requested the officials to carry out a "thorough investigation". "We urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation, tackle overcrowding, and guarantee basic rights," the UNOHCR said. Venezuela's prisons are infamous for severe violence and poor conditions of the prisoners. As many as 97 deaths occurred in Venezuelan prisons in 2019, 70 per cent of which were due to diseases such as tuberculosis and inadequate supply of medicines, according to OVP.

Venezuela: At least 47 dead, 75 injured in prison riot

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WATCH: Venezuela prisoners occupy prison, light mattresses in protest of alleged abuse

Venezuela: At least 47 dead, 75 injured in prison riot