Two suspects, who allegedly escaped during the jailbreak in Ekiti State, have been arrested by the Oyo State Police Command for armed robbery in the Saki and Ogbomoso areas of the state.It was gathered that the suspects ─ Bolaji Olawumi and John Isaac ─ who allegedly led an eight-man gang of robbers, were among the prisoners who fled from the Federal Prison, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, on December 1, 2014.
It had been reported that gunmen, numbering about 60, stormed the prison in Hilux vans with weapons, including cutlasses and AK-47 rifles and freed some inmates.
PUNCH Metro learnt that the two alleged gang leaders, after their escape, came to Oyo State where they formed a robbery gang.
Our correspondent gathered that the AK-47 rifle being used by the gang during operations was stolen from a serving policeman in Ekiti State. The police added that the gun had been recovered.
According to the police, the gang also snatched a Toyota Camry with registration number, JJJ473DG, from a woman.
It was gathered that the car had also been found and recovered by the police.
Our correspondent also learnt that other items recovered from the gang were cutlasses, two pump-action rifles, knives and locally-made guns.
Speaking with PUNCH Metro, Olawumi said they had gone on only two operations before they were rounded up.
He said, “I was among the prisoners that escaped from the prison in Ekiti State. We got a gang together and we started robbery operations.
“I was caught in Ogbomoso. I was caught with ammunition. We had gone for only two operations before we were caught by the police.”
Isaac, the second runaway, said, “During the second operation in Oyo town, we stole three laptops, money and other valuables. I was the second person who escaped from prison. We snatched the vehicle in Akure after we escaped from the prison and we started to use it for robbery operations.”
The state Commissioner of Police, Muhammed Katsina, said the police would continue to rid the state of criminal elements.
He said, “We are determined to stop criminality in the state. Our efforts have paid off because we have arrested an eight-man gang that had earlier snatched the Toyota Camry of a woman in Akure, Ondo State.
“They came here with the stolen vehicle and struck at a supermarket. They were attempting to escape when our men, who were on patrol in that area, arrested them.
“The leaders of the gang escaped during the Ekiti jailbreak a gang to unleash terror in the state.
“We hope to continue to create an enabling environment for the people in Oyo State.”
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