Member of a notorious robbery gang known as Frank has escaped from police custody.
The notorious robber was arrested during a robbery operation at St. Patrick Quasi Catholic Parish, Obio Ndot, in the Oruk Anam Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
Frank who was reported to have been tortured and later handed over to the Ikot Uboh Police Post, under the Oruk Anam Police Division, last Tuesday, was said to have escaped from the police cell on Friday through the roof.
Reports gathered that the suspect had been terrorising Oruk Anam and its environs for months.
the Residents of Obio Ndot village also revealed on Monday that St. Patrick Quasi Catholic Parish, three weeks ago, was attacked by the same robbery gang, who made away with the money realised during the harvest church service on Sunday
One of the residents, Mr Iwok Essien also said “Last Tuesday, at about 12 am, armed robbers attacked the Catholic parish again. They scaled the fence from behind the church to enter the premises at midnight.
“They did not know that after the first attack, the parish beefed up its security by engaging three additional security men because there was only one security man positioned at the gate the first time the gang robbed the parish.
“When the robbers came again last Tuesday, one of the security men on guard raised an alarm within the premises.
“Frank was caught, while other members of the gang managed to escape.
“The suspect was almost lynched by members of the village, Frank was later handed over to the police”.
“But last week Friday, some officers told the villagers that Frank had escaped. As I speak with you, there is controversy over the whereabouts of the suspected robber.”
However, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr Zubairu Muazu, said he contacted the Divisional Police Officer of the Oruk Anam Police Division who informed him through a text message that not one of the armed robbery suspect had escaped from their custody.
The DPO’s message, which the CP forwarded to journalists, read, “Good afternoon, sir, no armed robbery suspect escaped from the Oruk Anam Police Division.
“Rather, there was a case of stealing of aluminium zinc at the Ikot Uboh Police Post in which the arrested suspect was said to have escaped from custody on August 28, 2017.
“The ASP in charge did not report the incident until the station officer, who took over from him on September 1, 2017, told me. I have liaised with the locals for the re-arrest of the suspect, while those on duty have been defaulted.”
Follow us on Facebook – Dailyfamily.ng, Twitter – @DailyfamilyNG, Whatsapp +2348188889427, BBM PIN D86722A7 and Instagram @dailyfamilyng for more updates.
