Imo Jailbreak: Nine fleeing inmates re-arrested in Ghana

Nine Nigerians suspected to be inmates who fled during a jailbreak at the Owerri Custodial Centre in Imo State have been arrested while trying to enter Ghana after arriving in a boat, it was announced on Monday.

On April 5, over 1,884 prison inmates were said to have escaped after some armed group arrived in vehicles, carrying rocket-propelled grenades, machine guns and rifles. They entered the prison’s yard by using explosives to break through the administrative block and then released over 1,844 inmates from the jail.

However, on Monday, the police in the Greater Accra Region said they have arrested nine people suspected to be the inmates, including a female who attempted to enter Ghana through the River Volta in Ada.

The police in Ghana described them as those believed to have broken jail in Nigeria and trying to escape to Ghana. Their names were given as Emmanuel Obinnah Chiedozie, aged 27; Kelli Ekureni, aged 33; Steve Eyenuku, aged 33; Freedom Yusuf, aged 25; Enebeli Lucky, aged 29 years; Yummi Usmah, aged 29; Patrick Chanar, aged 47; Bless Eyenuku, aged 25 years and Obi Onuora, aged 38 years.

Items found on them at the point of arrest were personal effects, passports, ID cards and both Nigeria and Ghana currencies, among others.

Confirming the arrest to Ghanaweb, an online news outfit in Ghana, Chief Superintendent Francis Somian, Ada Divisional Police Commander, said the suspects were arrested through intelligence.

According to the police chief, at about 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, police had information that some foreigners were ferried across the River Volta into Ada Foah and were preparing to travel through public transport to Accra when they were arrested.

He explained that the police, armed with such information, quickly moved to the area, Clinic Junction Lorry Station and accosted the suspects onboard a Sprinter commercial bus with registration number ER 1657-14.

He stated that suspects had been handed over to the Ghana Immigration Service office in Tema for further action.

However, Mercy Budu, Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Immigration Service told Ghanaweb that the suspects had been transferred from Tema to the Headquarters in Accra. (Nigerian Tribune/Ghanaweb)