By Anthony Oboh
An awaiting-trial inmate, Osita Thomas, 28, has escaped from custody while appearing in court over alleged conspiracy and stealing in Edo State.
The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS), Edo State Command, announced the escape in a statement issued by its Public Relations Officer, Aminu Suleman, dated October 21 and made available to journalists in Benin on Thursday.
According to the statement, Thomas, who was being held at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Auchi, escaped during a court appearance last week.
The command appealed to members of the public to provide information that could lead to his arrest.
It urged anyone with useful information about his whereabouts to contact the nearest custodial centre or police station, or call 08038075882 or 08039243704.
The Controller of Corrections in Edo State assured the public that efforts were underway to recapture the fugitive, adding that security measures had been strengthened across custodial facilities to prevent further escapes.
However, an official of the correctional service attributed the incident to manpower shortages, explaining that the officer who escorted Thomas and other inmates to court could not pursue him without risking the escape of the remaining detainees.
“The warden couldn’t leave other inmates to pursue Osita as he will risk losing others,” the official said.
The official also raised concerns over the planned retirement of more than 1,000 correctional personnel this year, warning that the absence of fresh recruitment could worsen the manpower shortage and increase the risk of similar incidents.
The official called on the authorities to urgently address the staffing gap to prevent a recurrence.
