*Police re-arrest suspect with arms after release from prison
By Emma Amaize
ASABA- THE Nigeria Prisons Service, NPS, has dismissed a staff of Federal Prisons, Okere, near Warri, Delta State, recently discovered to have provided cover for a jailed kidnap kingpin to leave the prisons and arrange kidnap operations outside.
Meanwhile, a 25-year-old armed robbery suspect, Blessing, who was recently released from Federal Prisons, Okere, has been re-arrested by the police for illegal possession of gun and cartridge.
A top security source, who confirmed the sack of the officer, said: “The kidnapper, who was transferred under shady circumstances from another prison to the Federal Prisons, Okere, has also been returned to the place he was formerly serving his jail term.”
“The police acted on intelligence that the abduction linchpin had a kind of protective custody with some prisons personnel that enabled him to come out and commit such atrocities. That was how the police and the Department of State Services, DSS, stepped in.
“It is actually embarrassing, the security agencies are handling it with care and the prisons authorities did the needful, they sacked the staff after their investigation and handed him over to the police for prosecution. He is now being prosecuted by the police,” the source added.
Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, Mr. Muhammad Mustafa, who spoke to Vanguard on the re-arrested suspect, Blessing, said: A team of 31 Police Mobile Force, PMF, Asaba, while on stop and search, along Nigeria Ports Authority, NPA, Expresway, Warri, on August 4, stopped one mini bus with Delta state commercial color, registration number, WWR 900 ZU.”
“Upon search of the vehicle and occupants, two boys jumped down from the vehicle and ran away, abandoning a black bag at the back seat of the bus. When the bag was searched, one locally-made cut- to -size single barrel and one live cartridge were recovered.
“When the passengers were screened, one Blessing, aged 25 years, who was recently released from Okere Prisons, was arrested as he has confessed his complicity to the offence. Investigation has commenced with a view to arresting the fleeing suspects,” he added.
