Venezuelan prison erupts into chaos as inmates seize control VIDEO

A prison in the Venezuelan state of Barinas has been taken over by inmates, who also launched a strike, according to US News. The incident occurred on May 24.

More than 1,200 male inmates and over 100 female inmates participated in the protest. According to the Venezuelan Prison Observatory, the unrest began after the appointment of a new prison director, Elvis Macuare Guerrero, a week earlier.

🇻🇪 Inmates at Venezuela’s Barinas Judicial Internment Center are calling for the removal of the facility’s new director, Elvis Macuare Guerrero. They accuse him of conducting violent raids, imposing prolonged isolation, and using torture.
Families of the prisoners gathered… pic.twitter.com/uEGo1d7oLg

— Conflict Radar (@Conflict_Radar1) May 25, 2026

The organisation, citing inmates, claims that since the leadership change, there have been intensified searches, beatings, and torture inside the facility, and that more than 120 prisoners were placed in solitary confinement. It is also alleged that the prison director fired shots toward the facility’s watchtowers.

Some inmates climbed onto the roofs of prison towers, while others set mattresses on fire as part of the protest. The Prison Observatory also claims that prison guards and the new director opened fire on protesters, resulting in injuries.

Relatives of inmates attempted to block the entry of Venezuelan National Guard units into the prison grounds but were unsuccessful. After the arrival of security forces, witnesses described hearing gunfire and explosions, with tear gas allegedly used near the women’s section of the facility.

🇻🇪 🚨 #ALERTA 11:00 PM | Familiares reportan despliegue de la GNB en las afueras del INJUBA en Barinas y temen un posible operativo. Exigen detener cualquier acción represiva, instalar una mesa de diálogo y garantizar la presencia de observadores de DDHH.

Info: @FundehullanVzla. pic.twitter.com/bmHWFl3BxZ

— Rafael Santiago (@SantiagoRafa11) May 25, 2026

AHORA | Siguen las protestas en centro penitenciario de Barinas, reclaman maltrato del director y temen por sus vidas. pic.twitter.com/nFW7jEy2oU

— Juan Pablo González 🇻🇪 (@Juanegron) May 25, 2026

By Jeyhun Aghazada