Awaiting-trial inmate Osita Thomas escapes during court appearance in Edo
- Osita Thomas, 28, escaped during a court appearance in Auchi, Edo State, last week.
- The Nigerian Correctional Service says it is searching for him and has asked the public for help.
- An official blamed the escape on a shortage of staff, with over 1,000 officers retiring this year.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) in Edo State has announced that an awaiting-trial inmate, Osita Thomas, 28, escaped during a court appearance last week in Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area.
In a statement dated October 21 and signed by the command’s spokesman, Aminu Suleman, the service said Thomas was facing charges of conspiracy and stealing at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Auchi.
According to the statement, Thomas escaped during his court appearance for trial. The Nation reported that the court declined to grant him bail, and that he seized the opportunity after the sitting to escape.
The service has asked members of the public with information on his whereabouts to contact the nearest custodial centre or police station, or call 08038075882 or 08039243704.
The Controller of Corrections for Edo State assured the public that no effort would be spared to recapture him, and that security around inmates in custody has been strengthened.
Staff shortage blamed
An official of the correctional service, who was not named, blamed the escape on a shortage of personnel. The official said the warden who took Thomas and other inmates to court could not pursue him because doing so would have risked the escape of the others.
The official added that more than 1,000 correctional officers are expected to retire this year, with no plans to recruit replacements.
The Nation reported that Thomas faces seven years’ imprisonment without parole if re-arrested. Under Nigerian law, an accused person is presumed innocent until a court finds them guilty.
The escape highlights the pressure on correctional facilities in Edo and across the country, where staffing and security challenges have raised concerns about the safe keeping of inmates and the safety of the public.
What happens next
The Nation reported that authorities are investigating the escape. The NCoS has asked members of the public to report any information on Thomas’s whereabouts to the nearest custodial centre or police station.
