Kidnap Kingpin Shot Dead Escaping From Court
BY AMOS DUNIA, ABUJA – A suspected kidnapping kingpin Chizoba Okoye, standing trial at Ebute-Meta Magistrate Court, Lagos, has died from bullet wounds while trying to escape from his prison handlers.
Men of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS) Armed Squad unit, Lagos State Command, had in the early hours of Wednesday, December 13, 2017, tried to prevent the suspect, Chizoba Okoye, who is standing trial for several cases of kidnappings from making a bold escape.
A statement by the Lagos Prison Command Public Relations Officer (CPRO), DSP Rotimi Oladokun explained that the incident took place after the case was adjourned and the escort team had to return late Okoye to the holding cell in the court premises.
According to Oladokun; “Thinking he could escape the watchful eyes of the armed guards, Okoye suddenly took to his heels defying verbal warnings and warning shots from the armed men.
“As he continued in his flight; and attempting to scale the fence to freedom, he was immobilised by shots from the armed personnel and subsequently arrested.
“Unfortunately he lost his life on the way to the hospital for medical attention”, the CPRO said.
The Lagos Prison Command spokesman said the Controller of Prison in the state, Tunde Ladipo has ordered an investigation into the incident and reassured the public of adequate security cover in all prison formations in the state.
The Lagos State Controller of Prisons while thanking members of other security organizations for their continuous support, appealed to members of the public to volunteer useful information that could assist security agencies in ridding the state of criminal elements.
