Riddle over ambush/killing of Warri Prisons’ warders

By EMMA AMAIZE

WHY did the Nigeria Prison Service, NPS, Okere, Warri in Delta State not notify the Nigeria Police  about the planned movement of high profile kidnap/armed robbery suspects from the prisons to High Court, Warri, on Wednesday, March 13, and ask for escort as customary?

Was any official (s) of the Federal Prisons working for or providing information to the kidnap syndicate that ambushed the warders between 8.00 am – 8.30 am on that day and ran off with two notorious kidnap suspects, among the nine awaiting trial inmates that were being shepherded to court?

Could it be that the disturbing affair was just an error on the part of a top prisons officer, who just assumed duties?

Whatever it is, the action or inaction of somebody or certain persons has resulted in the death of three prisons warders and grave injury to another two, who are battling for life at the Central Hospital, Warri.

One of the nine inmates was shot dead on the spot; four were reported to be back in the prisons. In fact, three were re-arrested by Okere youths, while one voluntarily surrendered himself. Four others are reportedly at large as at Thursday.

Police kept in the dark – Commissioner

Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ikechukwu Aduba, is not happy with the development. He told Sunday Vanguard after the incident, “Nobody told the police what happened even when we asked.”

A top official in the Delta State Command of NPS admitted that the police were not actually informed, saying, “We have a new man who recently took charge in the place, I think he was not aware of the procedure.”

The source added, “The way NPS is structured, it is only the national headquarters that can give out information of what transpired, that was why nobody in Delta State could immediately speak but I can assure you that they conveyed information to their superiors.”

Aduba, however, said the Area Commander, Warri, Husseini Rabiu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP, swung into action immediately the news of the incident came to his notice and deployed two teams to chase the gunmen.