An official of the Sapele Road Correctional Centre disclosed that 25 out of the 1,900 prisoners who escaped last week Monday, October 19 have voluntarily yielded to the authorities.
The prisoners fled Oko and Sapele Road Correctional Centres in Benin City, Edo State.
It was gathered that two out of the 25 inmates who returned were from Oko Medium Correctional Centre along Airport Road, Benin.
It was disclosed that one of the escapees had been recaptured after he was shot in the leg last week Wednesday, October 21.
According to the official, “The Department of State Security, the police and officials of the Nigerian Correctional Services will soon commence a manhunt for the runaway inmates immediately after a seven-day grace the state government gave them has elapsed.
“We have a way of arresting runway prisoners. We will swing into action once the protest calms down nationwide. The earlier they return on their own, the better for them.
“Those who are rearrested will be retried and sentenced to extra seven years if convicted. So, it is in their own interest to return as the governor has given them extra one week of grace to do so.”
One of the inmates, Alex Ose who returned to the prison stated that he has been awaiting trial since 2014 when he was arrested for armed robbery in Benin.
Ose, who is a 40-year old father of four and a taxi driver asserted that he s not guilty of the crime he was being punished for.
He explained, “I am innocent of the allegations against me. I was framed up. I am appealing to Governor Obaseki to look into my case.
“I have every opportunity to run, but chose to surrender myself because I am not guilty. The governor should please look seriously into my case.”
