Ondo jailbreak: Police rearrest 54 fleeing prisoners

Comptroller of Prisons in the state Mr. Tunde Olayiwola

Ondo State Command of the Nigeria Police said on Monday that its officers had re-arrested 54 inmates of the Olokuta Medium Security Prisons in Akure, who were part of the 175 inmates that escaped when some gunmen attacked the place on Sunday.

The Public Relations Officer of the Command, Mr. Wole Ogodo, who stated this in a statement on Monday, also denied a newspaper’s report (not in The PUNCH), that 10 travellers were killed during the attack by the hoodlums.

Ogodo described the newspaper’s report as a misrepresentation of the incident as no death was recorded during or after the attack.

He said, “The publication is a complete misrepresentation of the facts of the incident as no such death was recorded during the jail break.

“The attack on the prisons was carried out by some armed robbers mainly aimed at liberating some members of their gang who were in prison custody.

“No death was recorded either on the side of the security agents, inmate or any travellers.”

The police spokesman said 54 of the fleeing prisoners had been  arrested and had been returned to custody.

Meanwhile, security had been beefed up in Akure and neighbouring towns of Ondo, Idanre and Owo by riot policemen, soldiers and regular policemen, who were combing the towns for the fleeing prisoners.

Our correspondent observed that there was an unusual traffic congestion on Ondo Road when soldiers from the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, also known as Owena Barracks, frisked motorists and passengers.

The riot and regular policemen were also seen conducting a stop-and-search in Akure and Ondo towns on Monday while operatives of the States Security Services were sighted at some black spots, drinking joints and hotels, on surveillance.

The Comptroller of Prisons in the state Mr. Tunde Olayiwola could not be reached for comments when our correspondent called at his office as he was said to be holding a crucial meeting.

However, sources at the prisons indicated that most of the inmates that escaped were hardened criminals.

A source said, “There is a strong indication that those who escaped were notorious armed robbers, who had committed grave offences against the state which could lead to their death.

Meanwhile, Minister of Interior, Abbah Moro, on Monday, condemned the attack.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr. Geoge Udoh,in Abuja on Monday, the minister described the attack as unreasonable.

According to him, the jail-break was perpetrated by the people he described as enemy of progress.

Meanwhile, the new Chairman of the Police Service Commission, Chief Mike  Okiro, has promised to bring his wealth of experience within and outside Nigeria to bear in enhancing professionalism in the Nigeria Police Force and in tackling the nation’s security challenges.

PUNCH