Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of Interior has said that, all inmates who escaped following attacks on the Owerri Prison in Imo State, who voluntarily return to custody, would be granted amnesty against being charged for escaping from a lawful custody.
He however, said that the Federal Government will hunt all the jail breakers to the end of the earth, if they fail to return.
Aregbesola said that the security agents will go after the criminals and make them face the full wrath of the law.
He said that government will leave no stone unturned in fishing them out. “Make no mistake; they will be hunted to the ends of the earth” the Interior Minister added.
In a statement signed by the Director Press and Public Relations Lere Adams, Aregbesola said this during his visit to the Owerri Correctional Centre, while reaffirming the Federal Government’s stand to bring the perpetrators of the attack to justice, adding that additional security would be provided for all custodial centres for the safety of personnel and inmates as well as the security of the facilities.
The interior Minister also advised all correctional officers to be vigilant and take the security of the facilities and the inmates seriously while assuring them of the Federal Government’s determination to ensure their safety at all times.
Aregbesola also noted that during the #ENDSARS riots, late last year, there were coordinated attacks on custodial centres in Edo State, while an unsuccessful attempt was made in Lagos. ‘Thus, a pattern of syndicated attacks on custodial centres is emerging.’
He said that “We shall bring them to justice, or in the alternative, take justice to them as they can only run but they can’t hide” he said
You would recall that close to 2000 persons had escaped from the Owerri Prison, after armed men attacked the correction centre recently.
