SaharaReporters was told that upon storming the prison, the police were met with resistance from the prison officials, who initially refused to produce the suspects.
Some serving inmates at the Okere Prison in Warri South Area of Delta State, have been linked to a robbery in Benin City, Edo State, SaharaReporters learnt from top sources.
It was learnt that the robbery occurred on January 3, 2025, when a group of armed assailants stole valuable items from a young man and transferred a sum of N4million to an online bank account during the incident.
The victim were said to have initially reported the crime to the Edo State Police Command, but the progress in identifying the assailants was slow.
SaharaReporters learnt that when the victim conducted a geo-analysis of the account, it led the investigators to the Udu axis in Delta State, prompting further investigation.
A breakthrough came when the account holder was arrested, the top source told SaharaReporters on Monday.
According to the report, during questioning, she revealed that her boyfriend, who she had met online, had instructed her to open the bank account after claiming that his phone had fallen into a river.
The source explained that the suspect also asked her to withdraw large sums of money and transfer it to various account numbers. She was unaware that the money was linked to the robbery.
Further investigation led the police to the Warri Correctional Facility, where they traced the robbery operation to several inmates.
SaharaReporters was told that upon storming the prison, the police were met with resistance from the prison officials, who initially refused to produce the suspects.
Despite this, the authorities were able to apprehend one suspect, a death row inmate, who confirmed to have participated in the robbery, it was revealed.
Engr. Udoka Emmanuel Chika-dibie, the Executive Assistant (Security) to Delta State Governor who confirmed the report to SaharaReporters on Monday noted that some corrupt prison officials were alleged to have collected bribes and allowed the inmates to leave the prison for criminal activities and return without suspicion.
He added that the inmates involved in the robbery were reportedly able to carry out their operation in Benin City, return to the prison, and continue their sentences undetected due to the collusion with prison staff.
He said; “A young man was robbed on January 3rd 2025 in Benin by armed men who took valuable items and transferred a significant amount of money to an online banking account during the incident (4million).
“The victim initially reported the crime to the Edo State Police Command, but no progress was made in identifying the assailants.
“On hearing on the progresses made by our super cop, CSP ALIYU SHABA in exposing the killers of Paulinus Okon at Otokutu, they decided to bring their case to Ekpan Police station.
“The victim had conducted a geo analysis of the account which pointed to the Udu axis, leading to further investigation.
“The DPO arrested the account holder who confessed that her boyfriend owned the account.
“I met him online and we started talking and one thing led to another, he started professing love and I accepted.
“He told me he works offshore and have so many staff under him. He called me early January and told me that his phone fell into the River but expecting to receive some money and asked me to help him open the bank account which I obliged. Later, he sent a lady to pick the ATM of the very account from me.
“On the 4th of January, I got alert of 4million and told him. Later that day, he sent account numbers to me with instruction to pay some 600k, some 1.5million some 1million etc.
“The DPO decided to run advanced analysis on the accounts and traced it to Warri correctional prison.
“He immediately stormed the facility with his men and some of the arrested suspects. On arrival, one of the suspect (girl) sighted one of the star suspects but the prison officials refused to produce the young man except one who is serving a death sentence that also participated in the robbery.
“So what happened is that, inmate left the prison custody and travelled to Benin city to rob and eventually returned.
“All the robbers involved in this crime are serving inmates but because we have corrupt officials, they take bribes and allow the criminal inmates to go out for operations and return.”
Bright Edafe, the Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Police Command, when contacted by SaharaReporters for reaction promised to find out and get back to our correspondent.
But nothing has been heard from him as of the time of filing this report.
The case has sparked outrage among the public amid calls for immediate reforms within the correctional system.
Providing an update further, another top source told SaharaReporters on Tuesday that only one of the kidnappers out of the four-man prison gang from Okere prison was handed over to the police.
“We refused to be intimidated by prison officials. This morning, the prison officials out of pressure have called the police to come over to arrest the other three suspects who are inside the prison. What kind of a country is this?
“Those sentenced to death inside the prison, come out to rob and kidnap, then returned to the prison living large. If we do not interrogate the system, we have failed our generation,” the top source lamented.
SAHARA REPORTERS
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