Three suspects escape from police custody
The four suspects, who were being detained at the police post, reportedly fled at about 1:30pm after a police officer opened their cell door to take them for lunch. FILE PHOTO
What you need to know:
- This is the second time suspects are escaping from guarded police cells in Omoro District. In July this year, four suspects who were being detained on allegations of committing crimes ranging from attempted murder, assault, defilement and arson at Omoro Police Station in Lalogi Sub-county, escaped from police custody.
Omoro. Police in Omoro District are searching for three suspects who escaped from police custody at Bobi Police Post in Bobi Sub-county, about 27 kilometres from Gulu Town on Monday afternoon.
The four suspects, who were being detained at the police post, reportedly fled at about 1:30pm after a police officer opened their cell door to take them for lunch.
According to police reports, the suspects had been arrested on allegations of defilement and assault in Pato and Along villages in Paidwe Parish, Bobi Sub-county on December 2.
The Aswa River Regional police spokesperson, Mr Jimmy Patrick Okema, yesterday confirmed the suspects’ escape to Daily Monitor in an interview.
He, however, said one of the suspects on assault charges was re-arrested shortly after escaping from cells.
According to Mr Okema, they are investigating circumstances surrounding the escape of the suspects despite presence of an armed guard at the police post that afternoon.
“When one of our police officers went to open the door cells for the suspects to go out for lunch, they [suspects] had already made up their minds to escape. They fled in different directions immediately the cell was opened,” Mr Okema said.
“We shall question the police officers who were on guard that day. They never fired a bullet in air to stop the suspects from fleeing,” he said.
He added: “Our police officer got injured in the chase and is now receiving medical treatment for broken teeth. We are continuing to hunt the suspects to bring them to book.
Mr Okema, however, did not reveal particulars of the injured police officer.
Previous incidents...
This is the second time suspects are escaping from guarded police cells in Omoro District. In July this year, four suspects who were being detained on allegations of committing crimes ranging from attempted murder, assault, defilement and arson at Omoro Police Station in Lalogi Sub-county, escaped from police custody. The suspects reportedly escaped at about 6pm after one of the police officers on guard tried to open the police cells where they [suspects] were being detained. In neighboring Oyam District. Two suspects in July this year also beat up a police officer in Oyam Central Police Station where they were being detained before fleeing with his AK47 assault rifle.
