Suspected robber reportedly escapes from police cell

Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom heaved a sigh of relief when a member of a notorious robbery gang, identified by the name

The community however got the shock of the century when information got to them stating that Frank had escaped from police custody. He is said to have escaped through the roof of his police cell.

The robber was arrested during a robbery attack at St. Patrick Quasi Catholic Parish, Obio Ndot, in the local government area. He was said to have been terrorizing the environs for months with his gang members.

He was said to have been beaten and later handed over to the Ikot Uboh Police Post, under the Oruk Anam Police Division, last Tuesday.

According to residents of Obio Ndot village, St. Patrick Quasi Catholic Parish, had been attacked three weeks earlier by Frank and his robbery gang, making away with the church offering realised from the church harvest service.

A resident of the area, Mr Iwok Essien, said, “Last Tuesday, at about 12 am, the robbers attacked the Catholic parish again. They scaled the fence from behind the church to enter the premises.

“They did not know that after the first attack, the parish beefed up its security by engaging three additional security men because there was only one security man positioned at the gate the first time the gang robbed the parish. When the robbers came last Tuesday, one of the security men raised the alarm.

“Frank was caught, while others managed to escape. The suspect was almost lynched, but the church intervened. Frank was later handed over to the police.

“But last week Friday, some officers told the villagers that Frank had escaped. As I speak with you, there is controversy over the whereabouts of the suspected robber.”

Mr Zubairu Muazu, the state commissioner of Police, said he contacted the Divisional Police Officer of the Oruk Anam Police Division who through a text message informed him that no suspect broke out of the police cell.

The text message which the DPO sent to the CP, which the CP then forwarded to the press, read, “Good afternoon, sir, no armed robbery suspect escaped from the Oruk Anam Police Division.

“Rather, there was a case of stealing of aluminium zinc at the Ikot Uboh Police Post in which the arrested suspect was said to have escaped from custody on August 28, 2017.

“The ASP in charge did not report the incident until the station officer, who took over from him on September 1, 2017, told me. I have liaised with the locals for the re-arrest of the suspect, while those on duty have been defaulted.”