A fleeing inmate of the Federal Correctional Centre, Owerri, Imo State has been set ablaze by angry residents of Umuawom village, Ihodimeze Community in Ikeduru Local Government Area, Imo state, Wednesday.

The fleeing prisoner, whose identity could not be ascertained as at press time was said to have hailed from the neighboring Ogwa Community in Mbaitoli LGA, but grew up in Umuawom village, his maternal home.

He was said to have been involved in a kidnap activity that involved a family in Umuawom village, but was eventually apprehended and remanded in custody for over one year now.

It was gathered that, the escapee got back home, dropped his bag and went straight to his maternal village (Umuawom) where he accused the family which testified against him as being responsible for his years of incarceration and now wanted to get back his pound of flesh.

Village sources told newsmen that, an altercation ensued and his daring move prompted villagers to pounce on him and immediately set him ablaze.

The Spokesman for Imo State Police Command, Orlando Ikeokwu was contacted for comments relating to the incident but he said that he was yet to be officially briefed on the matter.

The escapee was one of the 1884 inmates who fled after gunmen attacked Owerri Correctional Centre on Monday.  

A three storey building along Okwoji Owerre-ebiri in Orlu LGA, owned by an indigene of the community was on Saturday morning, April 3, 2021 collapsed. The building had reached roofing stage before the incident happened.

An eyewitness, Mr. Humphrey Oluigbo, told The Leader that on Saturday morning at about 8am, when some shop owners within the area had already opened for business and some passersby and motorist were passing, they heard a crack in the building and the next thing, the whole structure collapsed as people scampered for safety.

“The building was very close to the road, so when we heard a crack and some sand dropping from the building, we thought someone had thrown stone in the building, but before we could realize what was happening the whole building was already on the ground raising a lot of dust it”.

Another eyewitness at the scene, told The Leader that some doors at the first floor of the building were already fixed.”It is remaining to complete the paint house which is about one or two rooms and then roofing, before the ugly incident occurred”. He said the contractor handling the project was a direct brother to the owner of the building, adding that he had handled many projects before and wondered why the recent one became a huge failure.

The Leader sought to know the cause of the incident. Some people replied that the foundation of the building was not solid enough to carry the three storey building. They said that using substandard materials could also cause building collapse and advised that builders should take feasibility study before embarking on projects as well as to assess the materials used to avoid regret.

The Leader further observed that the building also affected other buildings and shops around it but no life was lost.

It was not possible to reach the Orlu Town Planning Authority to know the status of the building, whether ecessary approvals/permits were obtained before construction.

David Ubong, one of the inmates set free when hoodlums attacked a correctional centre in Owerri has been arrested by the police command in Akwa Ibom.

This was confirmed in a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Odiko Macdon, in Uyo on Friday, who said that Ubong confessed to have escaped from the Owerri correctional centre on April 5.
Macdon said that the suspect would be returned to Imo, to face his jail term.

“On April 6, 2021, personnel of Ikot Udota Police Division, Eket, relying on credible intelligence, apprehended one David Victor Ubong ‘m’ of Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area (LGA).

“Suspect confessed to be one of the inmates who escaped from the Nigerian Correctional Service in the recent jailbreak at Owerri, Imo on April 5, 2021.

“Until his conviction, the suspect was a resident of Obinze in Owerri, Imo. Suspect will be sent back to face his jail term,” Macdon said.

On the security in Essien Udim LGA of Akwa Ibom, Macdon quoted the Commissioner of Police, Mr Andrew Amiengheme, as saying that successes had been recorded and that a mop up operation was ongoing in the area.

Amiengheme urged residents of Essien Udim and its environs to remain calm but be security conscious.
He assured that security agencies would continue to do their best in restoring peace, law and order in the area and state at large.