29 suspects escape from police cell in Abia

Twenty-nine suspected criminals have reportedly escaped from the custody of the Central Police Station (CPS) in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State.

The suspects were reported to have fled from the CPS on Saturday night. It was gathered that 20 of the suspects have been rearrested while nine are on the run.

Sources said the suspects pretended to have been pressed and asked to use the restrooms. They were said to have briefed the cell guard to assist them, not knowing they had a sinister motive.

It was further gathered that as soon as the guard opened the cell to hand water to the suspects, they pushed it against him, overpowered the guard and fled.

The Abia police command said they have launched a manhunt for the nine suspects who escaped. When contacted, the commanding police public relations officer, Geoffrey Ogbonna called on members of the public to be on the lookout for the fleeing suspects and report to the nearest police station.

Investigations revealed that the cell of CPS, like any other police station in the state, is overstretched beyond its capacity as prisons have been reluctant to accept suspects due to the outbreak of COVID-19.

This situation is said to have caused the courts to order the remand of some of the suspects in the police custody.