The Abia state police command has launched a manhunt against 9 suspects who allegedly fled a lawful custody on Saturday, ABN TV reports.
About 29 suspects escaped from the Central Police Station in Umuahia, the state capital, out of which about 20 have been re-arrested.
Speaking with ABN TV on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer of the command, Geoffrey Ogbonna said the incident which took place at about 8pm on Saturday occurred when the suspects requested from the cell guard water to ease themselves.
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According to Ogbonna, the cell guard innocently opened the cell to hand the water to the suspects.
It was at this point that the inmates pushed the cell door against the guard, overpowered him, and fled.
The police PRO further stated that the prisons have been reluctant to accept inmates as a result of outbreak of COVID-19, a situation that caused the courts to order the remand of some of the suspects in the police custody.
He called on members of the public to be on the lookout for the fleeing inmates and report to the nearest police station.
Ogbonna further urged Abians to be wary of those who may be masquerading as mentally ill at this point, warning that this could be a ploy for the fleeing suspects to escape.
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He said in due course, all the fleeing suspects will be brought back into custody.