Posted by From Chuks Okocha in Port Harcourt on
Ripples of the jail break where a gang of a militia group went to rescue some its detained members continued as the police and soldiers patroled the streets of Port Harcourt, while another attempt towards a jail break was thwarted in Ahoada, also in Rivers State.
Ripples of the jail break where a gang of a militia group went to rescue some its detained members continued as the police and soldiers patroled the streets of Port Harcourt, while another attempt towards a jail break was thwarted in Ahoada, also in Rivers State.
Army sources told THISDAY that the parade with a combined team of the mobile policemen is to sound a note of warning to the cultists and the militia group that the peace of the state would not be taken for granted.
"What we are doing is to let leave no one in doubt that we are equal to the task of curtailing any security issue that crops up. This partrol is to let any one who is in doubt to know the combat readiness of the secuirty units in the state. That they succeeded in a jail break should not be taken for granted as we are equal to the task," the army captain in the partrol said.
It was gathered that there is already a manhunt for the over 176 escapees from the Port Harcourt Prison over the weekend.
Plain clothes security men and women, it was gathered, have swooped on all the nooks and crannies of the state searching for the escapees.
One of the escapees was said to be the second in command of one of the militia groups that is highly dreaded in the state.
As part of efforts to ensure that the security agents are equal to the task, the combined team of the police and soldiers paraded the major streets of Port Harcourt beginning from Aba road to Ikwere road and up to Olusegun Obasanjo road from where they ended up in a special parade in their barracks.
When contacted, the state Police Command Public Relation Officer, Mrs. Ireju Barasua, told THISDAY on phone that there was no cause for alarm as the parade was aimed at ensuring the citizens of the state that their safety is guarranteed.
She explained that the parade is a complementary efforts of the armed forces in helping the police to maintain peace in the state.
But another attmept of jail break in the town of Ahoada was thwarted by a combined team of the police and prison officials.
The attempted jail break was confirmed by the state Comptroller of Prison, Mr. A. I. Akundu, who told newsmen that a fresh atempt of another jail break was thwarted by security men.
But, it is not known whether this atempted jailbreak was by the same militia gand or not.
Meanwhile, security seems to have be fortified at Port Harcourt Prison as all movement within the sorrounding were heavily guarded when THISDAY visited the area known as the "Swamp" Resident of Port Harcourt city seems to be afraid, as every one was seen rushing back to the homes, while some said a curfew has been imposed in the city. But, it was difficult to confirm this from police authorities.