EBONYI: 5 cops arrested for aiding escape of notorious kidnapper

Five policemen who were on duty when suspected kidnapper, Ogonna Alioka (a.k.a Pilot) and three other suspects escaped police detention have been arrested on the orders of the Inspector General of the police.

While briefing newsmen on the matter, Titus Lamorde, the Commissioner of Police said; “after his arrest, Ogonna was helping the police to arrest the two other gang members who are at large but unfortunately, on the night of October 22, policemen of the state CIID on Cell/Counter duty negligently allowed the escape of kidnap suspect, Ogonna Alioka and three other suspects of various offences.

“He is a wanted person. Since that day, we have been making efforts to ensure that these people are arrested. I know time is limited for them, they will surely be arrested. We have already spread our tentacles all over to ensure that these four people are arrested and I am assuring members of the public that no stone will be left unturned in terms of tracking down these people.

“We have sent our men and some of them are in neighbouring state looking for the suspects because we heard a hint that one of them is around that place and by the grace of God, soonest we will call you and parade those people that escaped.

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“We will continue to do our best to ensure that security is maintained. We are still investigating to know who actually allowed these people to escape. We have five policemen in detention, we have initiated disciplinary actions against them, their trail is ongoing and also investigation is ongoing. The outcome of the investigation will give you more information about this issue.

“It is only investigation that can actually prove who aided the escape of the four suspects. But all the policemen on Counter duty on that day were arrested, detained, defaulted and tried in an orderly room. They are still undergoing trail,” the CP added.

The kidnap suspect reportedly led his gang to kidnap a 65-year-old woman identified as Mrs. Catherine Okorie on 18th January 2017, at her home in Egba Amaonya Ishiagu, Ivo local government area of Ebonyi state.

After demanding the sum of N10million as ransom for her release, the gang members later killed the woman for identifying one of them and buried her in a shallow grave in a thick forest.

Alioka was however arrested on 4th August 2017 by the state Anti-kidnapping gang bringing the number of suspects arrested in connection with the kidnap and murder of Okorie to fifteen until he escaped from police custody at the Ebonyi state Police headquarters on 22nd October 2017.

 

 

 

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