Mr Rauf Aregbesola, the Minister of Interior, has promised fugitives who fled from a detention center in Owerri, Imo’s capital, amnesty if they return willingly.
The minister gave the assurance while inspecting the facility on Tuesday, following an assault on the facility by unknown gunmen on Monday.
Willful returnees would be exempted from trial for unlawful fleeing, but not for the particular offences for which they were originally sentenced, according to the minister.
According to the minister, the federal government would leave no stone unturned in its pursuit of those responsible for what he called a “despicable act.”
” Unlawful escape from custody is a crime but the government in its magnanimity will grant amnesty to prisoners who willfully return.
” They will no longer be charged with an unlawful escape but only for the initial crimes that took them to prison. So we urge all escapees to return before they are caught on the run,” he said.
DCC Seye Oduntan, the Deputy Controller of Correctional Service in charge of the Owerri custodial centre, said 36 inmates remained after the attack, while six had returned so far.
He urged the public to have confidence in security services and to provide them with valuable information that would enable the fugitives to be apprehended.
SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN
