The Nigerian Correctional Service has said it would soon display the names and pictures of the fleeing inmates from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State.

The Spokesperson NCoS, Federal Capital Territory Command, Adamu Duza, disclosed this to our correspondent on Thursday.

Theheute reports that a relentless downpour on Wednesday night wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State, resulting in extensive damage to the facility and facilitating the escape of 118 inmates.

The downpour caused severe damage to the custodial centre’s infrastructure, including a breach in the perimeter fence, allowing inmates to flee.

However, 10 fleeing inmates had been recaptured.

Speaking with Theheute, Duza noted that the command was collaborating with other security agencies to recapture the remaining fleeing inmates, adding that their database would soon be made known to the public.
The Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State, after the damage caused by the downpour.

He noted, “Our intelligence officers, armed squadron officers, in collaboration with the Nigeria police force, DSS, and other security agencies are combing neighbouring communities to find the fleeing inmates.

“Very soon, we shall publish the names and pictures of the fleeing inmates.”

The Oyo State Police Command, on Thursday, announced the arrest of some officers, led by one inspector, Rasheed Saheed, who was involved in the alleged killing of a corper, Damilola Iyanda, in the Ogbomoso axis of the state.

Theheute reports that a police officer allegedly shot a member of the National Youth Service Corps, identified as Damilola, to death in the Ogbomoso Local Government Area of the state.

The late Damilola was serving in Ibadan, the state capital.

Oluwafemi Iyanda, who graduated from the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, and the deceased’s brother, said his late brother attended his convocation, after which they headed for an after-party the same day where he was shot dead by the trigger-happy cop.

The police command, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, said the officers involved in the shooting have been detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, Iyaganku.

The police spokesperson said the Commissioner of Police, Hamzat Adebola, had ordered that the case be taken up by the Homicide Department of the SCID, with the Deputy Commissioner of Police directly in charge of the investigations.

He said, “The command wishes to clear the air about the unfortunate shooting incident that occurred, on Monday, April 22, 2024, at about 0130 hours around a popular nightclub along, “Under G” area, Owode-Ogbomoso, resulting in the demise of Damilola, ‘m’.

“The investigation report reveals that during the early hours of the same date and time, a distress call was received by Operatives of the Command’s Monitoring Unit stationed within Ogbomoso through the director of a popular nightclub within the axis, requesting immediate intervention and protection from rampaging suspected student cultists who were at the time harassing guests and destroying club property.

The statement noted that, in a swift response to the call by the club director, a team of officers led by one inspector, Rasheed Saheed, arrived at the scene.

According to the statement, the altercation worsened as deliberate efforts were made by the suspected cultists to prevent the police from further gaining access to the crime scene as shots were allegedly fired from different angles, including from the intervening officers who fired warning shots to disperse onlookers.

“The incident recorded the death of one Damilola, ‘m’, and the injury of his brother, one Iyanda Femi Israel, who has since been discharged from the hospital after treatment.

“Worthy of note is that the CP has ordered that the case be taken up by the Homicide Department of the SCID with the Deputy Commissioner of Police directly in charge of the investigations,” the statement said.

He said all the officers involved in the incident, including Inspector Saheed, were currently under detention at the SCID, Iyaganku.

The command, therefore, assured members of the public, particularly the student community, of the swift dispensation of Justice.

Some students of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomosho, Oyo State, have demanded a probe into the alleged killing of a corp member, Damilola Iyanda, by a trigger-happy policeman on Tuesday.

This is just as the students decried the prolonged brutality allegedly meted out to them by the police officer in a separate interview with Theheute on Tuesday.

Theheute had reported that a trigger-happy policeman allegedly shot a corps member identified as Iyanda Damilola to death in Ogbomoso Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday.

It was gathered that an operative of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force was recognised by the students of the institution for alleged shooting.

The deceased’s brother, Oluwafemi Iyanda, who graduated from LAUTECH, told our correspondent on Tuesday that he sustained wounds from the bullet shots.

Oluwafemi, a graduate of Accounting and Management Sciences from the institution, narrated that the deceased was his brother who had attended his convocation, after which they headed for an after-party the same day where he was shot dead by the trigger-happy cop.

According to him, the late Damilola was serving in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

He said, “Yesterday was our convocation, and we were at a lounge in the Under-G area for a convocation party around 2 am when we heard that some people were fighting outside. When we discovered that the place was getting rowdy, we stepped out only to see policemen dispersing the crowd and shooting directly at the people.

“I sustained bullet wounds, but my brother, who came for my convocation, was shot in the head. He was confirmed dead at the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and was taken to the mortuary this morning.

“As I speak with you, I am at the clinic for my treatment. The wounds are deep, and I cannot but seek justice for my innocent brother.”

Asked if he could recognise the policemen who came for the operation, Oluwafemi said he was sure of one operative, stressing that the cop led the team that dispersed the crowd.

“I saw him handling the gun; he was shooting with one hand until he shot my brother,” he alleged.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident generated palpable tension among the students who took to the streets to protest but shelved the protest so as not to disrupt the ongoing convocation activities.

An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, because he was authorised to speak, told Theheute that the students shut the gate of the institution, leading to a temporary delay in starting the grand finale of its 16th convocation ceremony on Tuesday.

The source said, “What happened was that the celebration at the Under-G area resulted in an argument and this led to a fracas. It was during the altercation that the security agent was invited to settle the matter by the owner of the hotel.

“While attempting to settle the matter, the officer reportedly shot sporadically into the air. It was during this period that a student was allegedly shot, while two others sustained injury.”

Reacting to the incident, a student, Michael Oladipupo, alleged that the trigger-happy policeman was in the habit of brutalising students. He, however, urged relevant authorities to investigate the incident and bring the officer to justice.

“We are sure that it was a member of the police team who killed the boy because students were present. This is not the first time this particular police officer is involved in brutalising students.

“The school should also join us to demand justice for those who were killed and injured yesterday. We also want the lounge where the incident happened to be probed,” Oladipupo said.

Another student, Muhiz Alaka, urged the state government to probe the killing, stressing that the death of Damilola could not have been a mistake.

“We want justice for our brother that we lost, we want everyone involved in his death to be brought to book. The Oyo State Government should intervene and prosecute the culprit. The school management has not said anything on the matter yet, but all we want is for the perpetrator to be brought to book.

“An eyewitness said it was not a case of a stray bullet but an intentional act. This officer who is accused by students is known for brutalising students. He visits their hostels and bullies them. He has been constituting a nuisance in the university community for a while now.”

Similarly, another student, Oluwatobiloba Ojediran, also sought the probe and prosecution of the alleged officer if found guilty of the accusation levelled against him.

“One was slain, one was injured, and yesterday was the convocation. Two brothers from one parent are victims of this brutality, it is unfair if we keep mute. Justice must prevail, and the police officer must face the wrath of the law.”

When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Adewale Osifeso, disclosed that an investigation had begun into the incident.

“Investigation is ongoing. Updates will be provided accordingly, please,” Osifeso said.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, Odoba Oche, confirmed that the deceased was a Corp member.

He said, “We have confirmed that the deceased was a Corp member serving in Ibadan North Local Government. He was reportedly invited to his brother’s convocation in LAUTECH where the unfortunate incident happened.”