A 28-year-old prison escapee, Chinonso Kalu, has been re-arrested by operatives of the Imo Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) during a robbery operation. Kalu was apprehended by NSCDC officers on duty at Hero Square, Owerri, on June 6, after being spotted jumping a fence shortly after allegedly robbing passersby of their valuables.
Mr. Matthew Ovye, the Imo Commandant of NSCDC, handed over Kalu to officials of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) on Friday, following a parade of Kalu and another suspect. Ovye revealed that Kalu was one of the prisoners who escaped during the April 5, 2021 jailbreak in Owerri.
“In the course of our investigation, we discovered that the suspect was among those who took advantage of the jailbreak to escape. We are handing him over to the NCoS for reabsorption into the facility and other necessary actions,” said Ovye.
Mr. Casmir Obiozor, an Inspector of Corrections, received the escapee on behalf of NCoS, stating that Kalu would be officially documented before further actions are taken.
The state NSCDC boss also spoke about the arrest of a second suspect, 31-year-old Israel Akinregbide. Akinregbide was arrested on May 12 in the same complex as Kalu, shortly after some young men jumped into the premises of the Office of the Secretary to the State Government. Ovye assured that Akinregbide would be prosecuted accordingly.
Ovye expressed gratitude to other security agencies in the state for their continued collaboration and reaffirmed the NSCDC’s commitment to protecting critical government infrastructure. He also thanked Governor Hope Uzodinma for his ongoing support to the corps and advised residents to avoid staying out late in isolated areas to reduce the risk of falling victim to criminals.
