The Edo State Police Command has successfully re-arrested a 58-year-old prisoner, Jacob Alonge, who escaped from the Benin Correctional Centre during the 2020 #EndSARS protest in the state.
Commissioner of Police, CP Funsho Adegboye, confirmed this development to reporters in Benin City.
According to Adegboye, Alonge had been serving a 21-year prison sentence after being convicted by the Edo High Court for the heinous crime of raping his own daughter, Gift Alonge.
“While the trial was ongoing, he made threats that the case would never conclude. Unfortunately, his daughter and other witnesses mysteriously died before his conviction,” Adegboye explained.
He continued, “After escaping during the #EndSARS protest, he evaded capture. However, justice has now caught up with him, and he will face the consequences of his actions.”
Describing Alonge as a dangerous individual unfit for society, CP Adegboye emphasized that the convict’s capture was crucial for public safety.
The police received reliable information indicating that Alonge, a serial rapist, was hiding in Ososo community within the Akoko-Edo local government area. Acting on this intelligence, law enforcement officers swiftly moved to apprehend him.
Encountering resistance from some locals, the police persisted and successfully re-arrested Alonge. He was subsequently brought back to the police command for processing.
Adegboye urged community members not to harbor criminals, emphasizing that criminals can turn on anyone, including their own allies.
In an interview with reporters, Alonge admitted to fleeing during the chaos of the #EndSARS protest. “I ran to my village. When I heard the police were searching for me, I surrendered myself,” he confessed.
