Tension as 10 suspects escape from police detention

There is tension in Edo as more than 10 suspected criminals allegedly escaped from police detention at the Police Command Headquarters in Benin City.

It was gathered that the suspects, held at the command’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) over alleged armed robbery, murder and cultism, escaped at about 11:45 pm on January 1, 2021.

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It was also gathered that the police officers, who were on duty at the station during the escape, have been arrested by the police for interrogation.

Police sources, who spoke to our reporter, alleged that the cell was negligently opened apparently by the officers on duty in order to aid the escapees.

“There is conspiracy in this matter because the cell was not broken into and there was no attack by anybody,” a police source said. He said this was the second time suspects would be escaping from the CID detention.

The recent escape happened because no one was punished on the first incident, he added.

But the state Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwanbuzor, neither denied nor confirmed the incident, but said he would get back to the reporter.

But an officer, who confirmed the incident, said two of the escapees have been rearrested.

He said some of the suspects were held at the CID detention on the order of the court while others were armed robbery and cultism suspects undergoing investigations.