Thirteen inmates that fled Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo town, after the facility was attacked on Friday have been apprehended in Ife Odan, a town in Ejigbo local government area of Osun state.
A reliable security source, who preferred anonymity, on Sunday told The PUNCH that the inmates were wandering in the town on Saturday, when policemen on patrol arrested them.
Amitolu said, “We deployed men to Ogburo, Owu Ile, Ikonifin and other communities along Osun/Oyo boundary. We are also in contact with the residents of these communities and we have made them realised the need for them not to harbor any suspects.
“Our men are searching those communities.We are on top of the situation.”
The Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Security, Mrs. Abiodun Ige, refused to confirmed the arrest while speaking with our correspondent in Osogbo on Sunday.
But Ige said the state government was providing necessary support for the Nigeria Correctional Service to keep its facilities in Ilesa and Ife more save.
The spokesperson of Osun Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, however confirmed arrest of some suspected inmates in Ejigbo, but asked for more time to get other details.
The source said with the development, security along Oyo/Osun border communities, especially in Ejigbo axis had been tightened.
Also, a resident of Ejigbo, simply identified as Ademola, said residents of the town, and other adjoining communities had been put on red alert to report any suspicious movement, as security agents continue search for inmates that fled Oyo Correctional Centre that may be hiding in the area.
When contacted, the Field Commander, Osun Amotekun Corps, Amitolu Shittu, said men of the corps had been deployed to some villages at the boundary of the two states.
The chairman of Ejigbo local government, Gold Ayegbayo, in a chat, confirmed arrest of 13 inmates in Ife Odan town.
Ayegbayo, who said immediately the inmates were arrested, they were moved to Ejigbo, where police profiled them, added that after they had been screened, the inmates were transferred to State Intelligence and Criminal Investigation Department of Osun State Police Command in Osogbo.
He said, “They were 13 in number. They escaped to Ife Odan, Ejigbo West LCDA after the jail break in Oyo. The policemen were on patrol in Ife Odan town, when they saw these men, they were strange faces.
“Policemen accosted and interviewed them. They made personal confession that they were inmates that fled Oyo Correctional Facility. They were moved to Ejigbo Divisional Headquarters, where police profiled them before they were moved to SCID in Osogbo.”
