Gunmen invade police station in Rivers, free high profile criminals
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The hoodlums reportedly broke the padlock of the cell of Okrika Police Divisional headquarters, Rivers and set the inmates free around 2am on Tuesday.
Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Three high-profile criminals and a rape suspect were among detained suspects set free following invasion of Okrika Police Divisional headquarters, Rivers State by yet to be identified gunmen on Tuesday.
Our correspondent learnt that gunmen invaded the Police Station and freed all inmates at about 2am on Tuesday.
It could not be ascertained if any police officer were killed during the invasion.
But a complainant who had reported a rape case to the Okrika Police Division, Hezekiah Theophilus, lamented that the suspects escaped a day to when they were billed to be transferred to the State Criminal Investigative Department, SCID for further investigation.
He said he suspected a foul play, compromise and conspiracy in the alleged invasion of police station by gunmen.
Theophilus said he was told at the Police Station on Tuesday evening that all the inmates in the cell had escaped from custody.
Our correspondent learnt from a police source that the incident had been reported to the Police Force Headquarters, Abuja as well as the state Police Command, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt.
“The hoodlums broke the padlock of the cell, and also opened the backdoor of the cell where the inmates escaped from around 2am on Tuesday.
“We have reported the incident to the Police force headquarters, zonal and State commands.
“The officers on duty at the time the cell break occurred will account for it.”
A Police Investigative Officer, in charge of a rape case at the station also confirmed the incident but refused giving details.
DSP Grace Woyengikuro Iringe-koko,the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, of the Rivers State Police Command told Journalists that she had been fully briefed of the details of the incident.
The invasion of Okrika Police Station and the release of suspects is first of such incident after the #EndSARS protest of 2020 when some Police Stations particularly in Oyigbo,in Oyigbo Local Government Area of State were invaded.
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