So many incidents, both positives and negatives have been happening thick and fast, simultaneously all over the country as a result of reactions from the EndSARS protest.
While many Nigerians and protesters jubilated and shared sympathies with the inmates who were involved in the jail breaks all over the country, they forgot to put into consideration the fact that there were genuinely dangerous criminals amongst them who where better off being behind bars.
It is true that so many of the inmates were or might have been innocently convicted while others were victims of police brutality or corruption, it is however important to note that many of the inmates where serious criminals who met their Waterloo and were rightly put in jail.
The fear and worries of many reasonable citizens who didn’t see the jailbreak as an incidence worth celebrating are now coming to reality.
In Benin City Edo state an incidence has been reported of an inmate who escaped from prison and murdered the neighbour who testified against him.
Police in Edo state have arrested one of the 1993 inmates who escaped during the jailbreaks at Oko and Benin prisons for killing neighbour who testified against him in court.
During the end SARS protests it was reported that hoodlums broke into the premises of Benin Prison popularly known as White House and freed several inmates from their cell.
Speaking on the development, the state commissioner of police said “we have commenced actions against the criminal elements. It will interest you to know that 10 of the criminal elements who escaped from Oko Correctional Centre on Airport Road, Benin and the Correctional Centre on Sapele Road, Benin were also arrested.
“One of them, after having escaped from Oko correctional centre, ran back to his village on the same day, to kill the person who stood as a prosecution witness in the case that took him to the correctional centre. He has been arrested and he is among the suspects.
“Another group of three escapees from the correctional centre in Benin also went ahead to snatch a Lexus Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV). Three of them met at the correctional centre and they were caught by the police.
“A set of two escapees equally stole a Toyota Camry car. They also met at the correctional centre. They were arrested by Okada Division of Edo State Police Command. We have a total of ten escapees.
“The guns were also recovered from the criminal elements.”
He assured the people of the state that the police “have the capacity to provide adequate security for their lives and property”
” We are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that there is total safety. Edo residents should go about their lawful businesses without fear of being molested and without fear of criminals coming to wreck violent attacks,” he said.
The commissioner also said five AK-47 rifles; two locally-made exhibit guns; one locally-made gun; one Lexus 330 SUV with registration number KWL 205 AZ; one Toyota Camry saloon car with registration number LSD 231 GD; two bags of 50kg and one bag of 25kg rice and 24 crates of assorted drinks were recovered.
It is true that most citizens wouldn’t want to give up family members who are part of the escapee inmates but it is very imperative for citizens of the state to know that majority of these criminals especially those who are unrepentant, will go back to committing more heinous crimes than that which took them to jail in the first instance.
Therefore all hands should be on deck to assist the officers of the law in reprimanding these criminals if they are to maintain a peaceful and civil environment within the state.
Gift Joseph Okpakorese
Staff Writer
