14 fleeing inmates re-arrested in Akwa Ibom

-4 of the absconding inmates died during their attempt to overpower prison officials

-Prison officials injured during the battle are currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital

14 fleeing inmates re-arrested in Akwa Ibom

The Akwa Ibom State Prison authorities has announced that of 47 that escaped from the Ikot Ekpene prisons on 27^th December,  14 have been arrested by the prison guards.

The re-arrest was made known by the State’s Controller of Prisons Service, Mr. Alex Oditah, who told journalists that the inmates were seen within the Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area where the prison is located.

Oditah added that a committee consisting of three individuals has been set up to discover the immediate and remote cause of the occurrence and forestall any future break out.

He said “some inmates escaped from Ikot Ekpene Prison on December 7, at about 12.45p.m.; to ascertain the total number of those that escaped we had to do headcount.

“We discovered that 47 inmates had escaped from custody. Immediately, a search party swung into action and 14 were recaptured.”

He also said four of the escapees died from bullet injuries when they attempted overpowering prison warders on duty, while some of the prisons officials, who sustained various degrees of injuries were receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

Meanwhile, he assured that prison officials and other security agencies are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the remaining inmates are re-arrested.

The controller also urged members of the public to assist the security agencies with useful information that would aid the arrest of the fleeing prisoners.