Prison inmate escapes from security near Benin moat

Operatives of Nigeria Prison Service on Monday morning watched helplessly as an inmate at the Benin Central Prison escaped from their custody and ran away.
The inmate who was taken for menial fatigue work at the prisons headquarters, upon noticing that the supervising prison warden was inattentive, suddenly took to his heels and ran away through Reservation Road, in GRA.

The runaway prison inmate was seen pulling his inmate uniform in front of the NUJ Press Centre as he continued running away in his shorts, through the famous Benin Moat at the back of the prison headquarters.

Unofficial sources at the prison headquarters however said the prison official that was supposed to be guarding the inmate while he was working claimed to have gone to eat when the incident occurred.

Several officials of the Edo Prison Service were seen combing bushes in adjoining streets and the Benin moat searching for the runaway inmate.

It was observed at the Prison headquarters that a search party was being organised to help arrest the fleeing inmate.

While the State Comptroller of Benin Prisons, Mr. Effiom Etowa, could not be reached for comments, a top official said an official report was yet to be made on the matter.

According to him, “The official that took him out has not report any incidence to us but he does we will be able to say anything.”