Security

Abolongo Jailbreak: Makinde Calls For Calm

By Web News 662

Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has called for calm over the jailbreak at the Abolongo Correctional Facility.

Governor Makinde in a statewide broadcast aired on the state’s television service stated that all security agencies have been put on high alert and that the government would do everything to protect its citizens and all state and national assets.

The governor noted government has directed the security agencies to deploy personnel to critical national assets within the state and to monitor all entrances and exit points.

He urged all residents of the state to be watchful and to call the Security Emergency Number, 615 in case they notice any untoward movement of persons or development.

The governor commiserated with the families of the two slain security agents, a corporal of the Nigerian Army attached to Operation Burst, and an Operative of the Oyo State Amotekun Corps.

He noted that he had earlier visited another Amotekun Corps, Shukurat Omoba who was injured in the attack and in critical condition at the University College Hospital, UCH, Ibadan.

“I have visited her at the hospital, and we are deploying all state resources to ensure that she survives this”. 

“Please, let us all join hands in prayer for her speedy and complete recovery”. 

“Although some inmates have been recovered and taken back into custody, some are still at large. All security agencies have been placed on high alert to ensure that all that escaped are rearrested and returned to custody”.

“I am, therefore, using this opportunity also to put the citizens on alert. There is no better time to repeat the call to action: if you see something, please say something. These criminals would want to go to areas where they will not be easily rearrested. If you spot any unexplained strangers in your community, please call the 615-security emergency number immediately, and make a report”. 

“I have directed the security agencies to deploy personnel to critical national assets within the state and to monitor all entrance and exit points across the state.”

The governor equally called on residents of the state to disregard speculations doing the rounds on social media about the attack, stating that the authorities have begun investigations into the matter”.

“I appeal to you, the good people of Oyo State, to remain calm. We are aware of the various speculations going round especially on social media regarding the reason for this attack. I urge you all to disregard any such rumours as the authorities are still investigating the matter”. 

“Rest, assured that we will continue to do everything we are constitutionally allowed to do to secure our state,” he added.

Iyabo Adebisi

Judiciary

Oyo CJ Grants 45 Inmates Amnesty

By Web News 875

The Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Muntar Abimbola, has ordered the release of 45 inmates from the Agodi Ibadan and Abolongo Oyo Custodial Centres of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCS, in efforts to prevent the outbreak of coronavirus in prison.

The released inmates were granted mercy after the Monitoring Committee on Administration of Criminal Justice Law duly considered the need to decongest the prisons in the face of the security challenges being faced across the state and the rights of individuals involved in matters.

Among them was a man whose case had been suspended for a long time because prosecution witnesses refused to show up to testify.

Condition for their release included, inmates awaiting trial, inmates that had spent six years and above, sick convicted inmates, sick awaiting trial inmates and awaiting trial inmates with minor and bail-able offences. 

The committee also concluded to give them financial support to tide them over during this period.

Speaking on the exercise, Justice Munta Abimbola said the committee went through the list of one hundred and fifty  seven inmates  considered for the release and carefully  selected those qualified for the release.

Justice Abimbola therefore urged them not to go back to crime. 

For the first list of inmates that had spent more than six years, what we decided to do was get in touch with those in charge because most of the cases are part heard before the courts and we felt what would be appropriate is not to scuttle the trial process but fast track it and give necessary assistants to the court to ensure speedy conclusion of the matters within the shortest time possible.

 “After going through the list that contains minor and bail-able offences and by consensus of the monitoring committee of ACJL that most of the cases were minor offences that even if trial had gone on and they were convicted, they would have completed the terms of imprisonment, we thought it was appropriate to let them go, so 45 were given the prerogative of mercy. One of them was released because both prosecution and defense attested to the fact that witnesses haven’t been showing up. We feel it isn’t necessary to continue to detain such person because he can’t be convicted out of the blues without witness testimony,” the CJ said.

Sunday Ogunyemi