Oko Prisons Escape: Comptroller Blasts Police boss

JETHRO IBILEKE/Benin

Edo State Commissioner of Police, Olayinka Balogun on Monday has come under the criticism of the State Comptroller of Prisons, Jimoh Ewulo over the contradictory account of the police boss on the 19 August jail break in Oko Minimum Prison in Benin.

Mr. Ewulo who expressed dismay over the contradiction of the police during an interview with newsmen in Benin, described comments ascribed to Mr. Balogun as contrary to what actually happened at the prison.

“In as much as we recognized his assistance when he was called upon, false information is not part of us,” Ewulo said.

Unidentified gunmen attacked the Oko Minimum Security Federal Prisons in the early hours of August 19, 2012, at which 12 inmates escaped, four of which were later arrested and returned to the prison.

Edokpayi, a resident of the Oko community, a suburb of Benin City had told P.M. NEWS that explosives were used to bomb the entrance of the prison by the attackers to force one of the prison gates open, after which there were heavy gunshots.

The Comptroller of Prisons who corroborated the report, insisted that explosives were used in the attack,while the police Commissioner argued that there was neither a blast, nor were there gunshots and that none of the inmates escaped.

“If you people meet the CP again, I am sure he will say another thing. If you listen to his press briefing, there were faults.

“The incident is not a thing one can cover; because the inmates must be produced in court. Somebody kept them there. If you say nobody escaped, then tomorrow you tell the court you can’t produce the suspects?

“Apart from the press conference, we really appreciate their assistance. But unfortunately, there is now contradiction,” Ewulo said.

On whether the CP ought to have been briefed on the development before going to press, Ewelu said: “That’s not how we operate. We only complement each other. Not me briefing him or him briefing me. But we are not quarreling at all.”

When asked if the Prisons authority has launched a manhunt for the fleeing inmates, Mr. Ewulor said the Prisons has a way of tracking them, adding “we have contacted the police, judiciary and the SSS. One way or the other, these inmates would commit another crimes, since the records are there, they would be immediately returned back to us.”