Police Re-arrest Inmate Who ‘Formed A Gang’ After Imo Jailbreak
Two months after jailbreak in Imo State, Southeast Nigeria, an escaped inmate has been re-arrested for starting a kidnapping gang.
Police in Imo State, Southeast Nigeria, have arrested one Eze Kelvin, an inmate who escaped during the jailbreak at the Owerri Custodial Centre, for reportedly forming a kidnapping gang after he escaped from the centre on April 5, 2021.
Kelvin, was said to have been transferred to the anti-kidnapping unit of the command after his re-arrest on Saturday, June 26,2021.
According to DailyTrust, Mike Abatam, Media Adviser to the state’s Commissioner of Police, in a statement disclosed that the suspect confessed to have escaped with the help of some armed shooters suspected to be members of the proscribed separatist Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) who attacked the facility and freed more than 1800 inmates.
The interrogation of the 30 year-old escapee, a native of Uga in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State, who was said to be residing at Orji in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, led to the arrest of three other members of his gang in their hideout in Enugu State.
Abatam, in the statement, gave the names of the members arrested as Rapheal Nnamdi, 28, who was said to be an ex-convict from Ozu Okizu in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra and Johnson Ahanonu, 36, an escapee of Imo correctional Home from Obilibi Mbeiri Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo State.
He added that among the items recovered from him was an ash coloured Highlander SUV vehicle with Reg. No. RLU 192 TY.
The suspect also confessed to have kidnapped one Ozuzu Ekelezie, Osuji Gladjoan, and Onwuauaka Ugonna – all resident in Owerri.
HumAngle had reported that the Owerri Custodial Centre in Imo State and the State Police Command Headquarters were invaded by suspected separatist fighters between 1 a.m. and 3 a.m. WAT on Monday, April 5, freeing over 1,800 prisoners in the process.
In the months after the attack on the correctional facility, there were a series of coordinated attacks on security operatives and facilities across the state and southern region of the country.
Support Our Journalism
There are millions of ordinary people affected by conflict in Africa whose stories are missing in the mainstream media. HumAngle is determined to tell those challenging and under-reported stories, hoping that the people impacted by these conflicts will find the safety and security they deserve.
To ensure that we continue to provide public service coverage, we have a small favour to ask you. We want you to be part of our journalistic endeavour by contributing a token to us.
Your donation will further promote a robust, free, and independent media.
Donate Here
