A crime suspect, Innocent Godswill, has escaped from police custody at the Barracks Police Division in Surulere, Lagos, while the police officers on duty slept off.
The suspect, who was arrested over his alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl, disappeared from the police station in the night, while the policemen on duty were fast asleep.
A source close to the police division hinted our correspondent that the incident, which has put some officers of the command in serious trouble, occurred when the suspect, who feigned illness, was returned to the cell.
Our correspondent gathered that the suspect escaped from the police cell early October.
“An investigation revealed that the man was not charged to court. Rather, he was assisted to escape from the Barracks Police Station under Area C Command, Surulere,” he said.
It was also learnt that the development had resulted in some of the officers at the division facing orderly room trial, as the case had been brought to the notice of the police authorities in the
state.
Our source further said that the case had already been reported to the Commissioner of Police, adding that the officers on duty when the suspect escaped would face the music.
“Their conduct has been reported to the Commissioner of Police, the Area Commander and Provost. They are presently facing orderly room trial. The suspect will soon be arrested,” he said.
It was also gathered that some senior police officers had intervened in the matter and had begun moves to shield the concerned policemen from punishment.
But a source at the Public Affairs Department of the Ministry of Justice said, “Police authorities have been contacted to make the policemen involved a deterrent to others in the state.”
A member of a Non-Governmental Organisation, Child Protection Network, Ebenezer Omejalile, told our correspondent, “The case was transferred to gender office at state headquarters, but the suspect was rejected because of his health conditions. The suspect was taken to the Randle General Hospital, Surulere, for treatment.
“He was treated and brought back to the station. The IPO handcuffed the suspect and put him behind the counter. But surprisingly, the officers slept off and negligently allowed the suspect to
escape.”
