Criminal elements who escaped from the two correctional centres in Benin City, Edo State, during the violence that trailed the #EndSARS protests in state are now sending threat messages to policemen who investigated and prosecuted their cases.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Johnson Kokumo, who made the disclosure on Saturday, said that one of the escapees killed a prosecution witness from his village.
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He however added that the criminal had been re-arrested.
The commissioner further disclosed that a medical doctor attached to the Central Hospital was hit by a stray bullet amid continued cult-related killings and shootings in the state capital.
The statement partly read: “You can imagine what it means when three police stations along Sokponba Road are destroyed and burnt, and patrol vehicles destroyed in several other parts of the state capital. All the officers in these stations now operate from the headquarters.
“The #EndSARS protest was hijacked by hoodlums and it took a violent turn in the state and prisoners were set free. What do you expect? Some of these escapees have been sending threat messages to policemen who investigated and prosecuted them.
“One of the escapees convicted for murder killed the prosecution witness that same day in his village but he was rearrested immediately.
“Everybody must be part of the restoration of sanity. People who know these escapees should avail us information about them. I am assuring you that we are not sleeping but with what has happened to the police in Edo, some of these hitches are expected.”
Kokumo, who assured that his men were making efforts to restore normalcy to the state, said that three officers shot on Friday by hoodlums were recuperating.