Police arrest nine inmates after prison break

Nigeria’s police in central north Niger State has arrested nine suspected escapees from Koton karfe Prison in Thursday’s jail break. 

Monday, February 20, 2012

Nigeria’s police in central north Niger State has arrested nine suspected escapees from Koton karfe Prison in Thursday’s jail break.  State police spokesperson Richard Oguche disclosed this to reporters in Minna, the state capital on Saturday, saying the suspects were arrested along Lapai-Gulu Road in Niger. He said one of those arrested was  Patrick Oronge, the suspected Kabba bomber. The spokesperson told reporters that the police patrol team arrested the first batch of five suspects along Lapai-Gulu-Lokoja road on the night of their escape. "The suspects, numbering five, while on their escape run committed several armed robberies before they were re-arrested by Lapai Divisional policemen; a search on their vehicle showed  that they were carrying dangerous weapons,” he added.  "The suspects were carrying two AK47 rifles, 29 rounds of live ammunition, one complete mobile police uniform, one Bassetta pistol and were driving a 504 station wagon with registration number AA 524 SGB,” he said. Oguche said the police anti-robbery squad swung into action and intensified its investigation leading to the arrest of the second batch of four other suspects, including the suspected master- mind of the Kabba bomb blast, Oronge. "He confessed that the Bassetta pistol found on him was given to him by one of his gang members, who came to release them from the prison,” the police spokesperson added. "He further confessed to so many other crimes, including bombing and killing of policemen at Kabba in Kogi State,” Oguche said.