The Oyo State police command has re-arrested two alleged runaway prisoners who escaped during the December 1, 2014 jailbreak at the Federal Prison, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
The duo of Bolaji Olawumi and John Isaac allegedly led a gang for an armed robbery operation in the Saki and Ogbomoso areas of Oyo State.
The two alleged gang leaders, after their escape, went to Oyo State where they formed a robbery gang, according to Punch.
It was further learnt that the recovered AK-47 rifle with which the gang operated was stolen from a serving policeman in Ekiti State.
Among items recovered by the police was a woman’s Toyota Camry marked JJJ473DG, which the gang snatched from a woman.
Cutlasses, two pump-action rifles, knives and locally-made guns were also recovered from the bandits.
One of the suspects, Olawumi said they had gone on only two operations before they were apprehended.
He said, “I was among the prisoners that escaped from the prison in Ekiti State. We got a gang together and we started robbery operations.
“I was caught in Ogbomoso. I was caught with ammunition. We had gone for only two operations before we were caught by the police.”
On his own part, Isaac, the second suspect disclosed that they had stolen about three laptops unspecified amount of money and other valuables from their victims.
He said, “During the second operation in Oyo town, we stole three laptops, money and other valuables. I was the second person who escaped from prison. We snatched the vehicle in Akure after we escaped from the prison and we started to use it for robbery operations.”
Confirming the arrests, the state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Katsina, reinstated the resolve of the force to ensure that crime becomes a thing of the past in the state.
He said, “We are determined to stop criminality in the state. Our efforts have paid off because we have arrested an eight-man gang that had earlier snatched the Toyota Camry of a woman in Akure, Ondo State.
“They came here with the stolen vehicle and struck at a supermarket. They were attempting to escape when our men, who were on patrol in that area, arrested them.
“The leaders of the gang escaped during the Ekiti jailbreak a gang to unleash terror in the state.
“We hope to continue to create an enabling environment for the people in Oyo State.”
