Posted by The Port Harcourt Telegraph on
Who is actually telling the truth about what could have happened in the hours preceding the jail break? That is the question that members of the public are asking as two federal establishments go for each other's jugular.
Who is actually telling the truth about what could have happened in the hours preceding the jail break?
That is the question that members of the public are asking as two federal establishments go for each other's jugular.
The prison authorities had come forth with an explanation which suggested that the power outage in the area could have provided the background for the jailbreak which occurred in the State.
A spokesman for the prisons said that the power outage led to a riot in the prisons on the part of criminals that were being held there.
In a swift reaction, NEPA dismissed the claim, saying it had nothing to do with the jailbreak.
Not many onlookers and other observers following the development could make sense of the claims and counter claims that rent the airwaves.
"Could it be that the prison has never suffered power failure even when power outages are commonplace among residents", asked one resident in bewilderment
Another who was part of a small group that was discussing the issue didn't appear to be too convinced by the explanation either.
He had a question for the Telegraph which tried to get his reaction and it went thus, "How did guns that fired relentlessly between 9.00p.m and 02.00 hours come to be part of the action if prisoners who naturally should not bear arms in confinement?
Was it equally as a result of the power outage?"
While the controversy continues over the issue, even as calm returns to the old township area, the police joined the fray.
The State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Samuel Adetuyi echoed the position of the prison authorities, saying there were indications that the power outage at the prison led to the mutiny which opened windows of escape for some prisoners that were on the run.Asked if the boys who were behind the operation were cult boys, the commissioner retorted, explaining that all he knew for sure was that anybody in prison is a criminal Full details of his comments Monday).
As things are at the moment, security operatives are on the trail of those who escaped from prison.
So far, the police says that 12 persons have been re-arrested. Initially, there were fears that a curfew may have been imposed, a claim that the government debunked early in the week.
Magnus Abe, Rivers Information Commissioner said there was no iota of truth in the claim that a curfew had been declared.
At the prisons, inmates who reached out to their relatives said those of them who did not escape were being made to bear the brunt. They said they were going through hell, claiming they were being crammed together in cells, with no food.
For now residents are beginning to gain in confidence as police step up their patrols.
Thus far, Soboma has not been found but the authorities believe it is a matter of time before they find. Early in the week, air force helicopters took the skies as the navy covered waterways and the SSS swung into action to try and provide the intelligence which may help in rounding up the remaining prisoners who are at large.