A total of 25 inmates, out of the 1,900 inmates, who escaped from Oko and Sapele Road Correctional Centre popularly called White House, Benin last Monday have voluntarily surrendered themselves to the authorities.
They escaped when alleged hoodlums masquerading as #EndSARS protesters allegedly stormed the two prisons and freed them..
One of the inmates, who gave his name as Alex Ose, 40, a taxi driver, said that he has been awaiting trial since 2014 when he was arrested for armed robbery in the Edo State capital of Benin.
Ose, from Esan, Edo State and a father of four said that he decided to heed the call of Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and surrender himself because he is innocent of the charges against him and was supremely sure that he will be vindicated by the court.
The awaiting trial inmate, one of the 1,900 escapees who spoke with Tribune Online, however, confessed that the escape provided him a perfect opportunity to be home with his wife and children, adding that he ran in the ensuing bedlam when the protesters stormed the correctional centre and ordered them to escape.
The inmate pleaded: “I am innocent of the allegations against me. I was framed up. I am appealing to Governor Obaseki to look into my case. I have every opportunity to run but chose to surrender myself because I am not guilty. The governor should please look seriously into my case. I am innocent.”
A source at Sapele Road Correctional Centre who would not want his name in print said that one of the escaped prisoners was shot on the leg and caught on Wednesday when he was sighted near the correctional centre but took to his heels when he was ordered to surrender himself to the authorities.
The source disclosed that two out of the 25 inmates who returned were from Oko Medium Correctional Centre along Airport Road, Benin, assuring that they will be returned to Oko when the situation returns to normal.
According to him, the Department of State Security (DSS), the police and officials of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS) will soon commence a massive manhunt for the runaway inmates once Governor Obaseki's one week grace for them to return expires.
Ose, from Esan, Edo State and a father of four said that he decided to heed the call of Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and surrender himself because he is innocent of the charges against him and was supremely sure that he will be vindicated by the court.
The awaiting trial inmate, one of the 1,900 escapees who spoke with Tribune Online, however, confessed that the escape provided him a perfect opportunity to be home with his wife and children, adding that he ran in the ensuing bedlam when the protesters stormed the correctional centre and ordered them to escape.
The inmate pleaded: “I am innocent of the allegations against me. I was framed up. I am appealing to Governor Obaseki to look into my case. I have every opportunity to run but chose to surrender myself because I am not guilty. The governor should please look seriously into my case. I am innocent.”
A source at Sapele Road Correctional Centre who would not want his name in print said that one of the escaped prisoners was shot on the leg and caught on Wednesday when he was sighted near the correctional centre but took to his heels when he was ordered to surrender himself to the authorities.
The source disclosed that two out of the 25 inmates who returned were from Oko Medium Correctional Centre along Airport Road, Benin, assuring that they will be returned to Oko when the situation returns to normal.
According to him, the Department of State Security (DSS), the police and officials of the Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS) will soon commence a massive manhunt for the runaway inmates once Governor Obaseki's one week grace for them to return expires.
From Tribune online.ng
I pray your case is given the needed attention urgently and you are vindicated if you are not guilty.
ReplyDeleteAwaiting trial for 6 years? Mehnn this country is wack.
ReplyDeleteAlmost 10years. omo
DeleteLies!!!
ReplyDeleteOnly someone with few months to his release date will return
But there is no release date when someone is awaiting trial.
DeleteI'm sorry,i don't believe this news.
DeleteWho will see hell and walk right into it? They're simply setting traps for the rest.
I believe in my heart that those to report early,may get justice.
ReplyDelete6 years
ReplyDeleteThem without a shelter and means to even make a 001 or 010 or 100 meal on the outside daily decided to return...
ReplyDeleteI pray you get your freedom and go be with your family
Hmmm should we say he is a noble Noble man or plainly stupid?
ReplyDeleteHe is mistaken f he thinks going back will change anything.
DeleteHe tried o. He must really have confidence in our judicial system, I pray it doesn't fail him.
ReplyDeleteYou should understand that he is someone who has a conscience know the illegality of his actions despite the fact that he is innocent. Guess he just want to resolve the whole issue the right way than get out illegally which might be too risky too.
DeleteAwaiting Trial FOR 6 YEARS IS A CRIME AND INJUSTICE BY EDO STATE GOVT AGAINST HIM!
DeleteHe SHOULD NEVER HAVE RETURNED!!! That's if he is not someone Edo State Government used to trump up this story of a runaway-returnee prisoner. 🤔
it's not easy to keep running and hiding especially when you are innocent.
ReplyDeleteI pray that the appropriate department will look into his case
Innocent people languishing in those prisons. Chei
ReplyDelete