Joy Anyim
There was pandemonium at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, on Wednesday night, after 30 suspects, detained at the cell of defunct Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), escaped.
The Nigerian Xpress gathered that since the disbandment of the Unit, all officers of the Unit, had been asked to stay off of the premises, as the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), had taken over cases been handled by the Unit.
Information had it that the close to 300 suspects held at the facility, had been hinted about the dissolution of the Unit, as the defunct SARS office had become deserted.
According to a senior police officer, who confirmed the incident to the correspondent, the detainees tricked the only officer, who reported for duty that night, shouting “ Emergency! Emergency! ”
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The source stated that the officer, a Sergeant, rushed to check what it was, but on opening the gate to the Cell, was overpowered by the detainees.
He was allegedly beaten up, as the detainees looted offices and exhibits before fleeing the premises.
It was learnt that despite shootings by Mobile Policemen deployed to man the defunct SARS facility, over 30 detainees scaled the fence to freedom.
According to the source, “Somehow, the detainees heard about the disbandment of SARS, and they even noticed that officers at the Unit were no longer allowed access to the facility. The persons on duty on the night of the incident were the Station Officer (SO), and a Sergeant, who for reasons best known to him, reported for duty that night.
“The detainees called the sergeants attention to an emergency in the cell, which was not true. Immediately he opened the gate they all rushed out. Some of them ran into offices in the facility to loot phones, laptops and other exhibits. They also attacked the SO. Attempts by Mobile policemen on guard to stop them, proved abortive.
“The mobile policemen fired several shots in the air, deliberately not aiming for the suspects, but they still didn’t stop. I hear over 30 of the suspects were still missing as at Thursday evening. Even a notorious armed robbery suspect, who had killed some of his victims is part of those missing.
“For some of the suspects, there case were already in court, the magistrate had even asked that they be remanded in Correctional Facilities in the State, but for their COVID-19 test results which were pending, they were still held at SARS facility ”
Stating that the cell break could have been averted if the police authorities had been more strategic, the source said all officers of the defunct Unit shouldn’t have been barred from accessing the facility at the same time.
The source also warned Lagosians to be vigilant, and be security conscious.
“The police high command and state commands should have known better. How can you leave over 300 suspects with less than ten officers. So What do you expect? I am not surprised, and won’t be if similar incident happened in other defunct SARS holding facilities.
“My only concern is that some of those that escaped were high profile armed – robbers. We may have to soon start battling with the menace of armed robbery again in Lagos. You don’t just ask policemen to pull out like that. We all know we don’t have enough hands, ” he said.
Meanwhile the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has denied the incident in a statement on Thursday.
Adejobi who said the report was mischievous and baseless, maintained all suspects at the cell of the defunct SARS in Lagos, were intact.
He said: “The Command perceives such rumour unfounded, mischievous and baseless. It is an attempt to cause fairs and panic in the minds of Lagosians, and distracting the command.
“In line with the directive of the IGP, the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, has taken over the disbanded SARS and other tactical units’ buildings in Ikeja and other satellite offices across the state, including the suspects.
“It’s pertinent to state that some of the suspects, who have been convicted, have undergone COVID-19 test which is a prerequisite to accepting them into correctional centres; but the command awaits their results before further actions. The suspects in all the cases handled by the disbanded SARS are intact.”
The PPRO confirmed that the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), SCID, Yetunde Longe, has temporarily relocated to the disbanded SARS building at Ikeja for thorough supervision and accountability of the taking over process.
He said the Command urges the general public to regard the news as a rumour set to suit the intention of the originator(s) as the command is committed to reforming the policing system and providing adequate security for all in the state.
