Inmate wey dey await trial, Osita Thomas, escape during court appearance for Edo
- Osita Thomas, 28, escape during court appearance for Auchi, Edo State, last week.
- Nigerian Correctional Service say dem dey search for am and don ask public for help.
- One official blame di escape on shortage of staff, with over 1,000 officers retiring this year.
Di Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) for Edo State don announce say one inmate wey dey await trial, Osita Thomas, 28, escape during court appearance last week for Auchi, Etsako West Local Government Area.
For one statement wey dem date October 21 and wey di command spokesman, Aminu Suleman, sign, di service say Thomas dey face charges of conspiracy and stealing for di Medium Security Custodial Centre for Auchi.
According to di statement, Thomas escape during im court appearance for trial. The Nation report say di court refuse to grant am bail, and say he seize di opportunity after di sitting to escape.
Di service don ask members of di public wey get information on im whereabouts to contact di nearest custodial centre or police station, or call 08038075882 or 08039243704.
Di Controller of Corrections for Edo State assure di public say no effort go dey spared to recapture am, and say security around inmates wey dey custody don strong well well.
Dem blame staff shortage
One official of di correctional service, wey dem no name, blame di escape on shortage of personnel. Di official say di warden wey carry Thomas and other inmates go court no fit pursue am because doing so would have risk di escape of di others.
Di official add say more than 1,000 correctional officers dey expected to retire this year, with no plans to recruit replacements.
The Nation report say Thomas face seven years' imprisonment without parole if dem re-arrest am. Under Nigerian law, dem dey presume accused person innocent until court find am guilty.
Di escape highlight di pressure on correctional facilities for Edo and across di country, where staffing and security challenges don raise concerns about di safe keeping of inmates and di safety of di public.
Wetin go happen next
The Nation report say authorities dey investigate di escape. Di NCoS don ask members of di public to report any information on Thomas's whereabouts to di nearest custodial centre or police station.
