5 cops detained over escape of kidnap, murder suspects

Five police officers who were on duty when four kidnap suspects escaped from their custody in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State are currently in detention assisting in investigations.

The state Commissioner of Police, Titus Lamorde, said yesterday in Abakaliki that the kidnap suspects, Ogonna Alioke, Friday Nwangbo, Emeka Nwangbo and Ekene Omenyi had escaped from the command’s custody on the night of October 22.

They were detained for allegedly kidnapping and killing one Mrs. Catherine Okorie. It would be recalled that late Mrs. Okorie was kidnapped in her home at Egba Amanye community in Ivo LGA of the state and was later killed and buried by the gang in a bush at Lopkpanta in Abia State.

Briefing journalists at the command headquarters in Abakaliki where he paraded 11 suspects in connection with other crimes such as murder, armed robbery and stealing of street light cable belonging to the state government, Lamorde added that the suspects had earlier demanded N10 million ransom from her family, and blamed their escape on the negligence of the police officers on duty.

“The insinuation that a top politician in the state masterminded the escape is unfounded and we assure the public that we will get to the root of the matter,” he said.

He assured residents that the command had put in place a team of investigators to ensure the immediate re-arrest of the suspects.

Larmode said also the command arrested other suspects in connection with alleged armed robbery and pipeline vandalism as well as the death of a student of the Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki.