Suspect escapes from police custody in Cross River

Agency ReporterJanuary 28, 2018

0 1 minute read

A suspected criminal allegedly involved in a murder case in Bakassi local government area of Cross River State has escaped from Police custody in Bakassi Police Divisional headquarters.

The suspect, Essien Ita was alleged to have been involved in the murder of Chief Eyo Eyo Bassey who was assassinated sometime in 2017.

A source who preferred anonymity told our correspondents that when Essien was granted bail late last year, he went back to the brother of the deceased village head of Ikot- Obot to threaten him.

“When he was granted bail, he went back to the younger brother of Chief Eyo Eyo Bassey who was assassinated last year to threaten his life and vowed that he will make sure he too was also killed like his elder brother.

“The younger brother of the deceased reported the matter to the police and he was re-arrested, but as the police were planning to charge him to court, he escaped from their custody.

“As I speak, the officers on duty have been given an ultimatum to re-arrest and provide the suspect on or before Thursday or face disciplinary actions,” he said.

It was learned that Essien Ita who hails from Ikot –Nkpo Anang in Bakassi and six others were arrested in connection with the alleged murder, but he was granted bail.

When contacted, Police Public Relations Officer in the state, ASP Irene Ugbo confirmed the escape, adding that a crack team was on his trail and he will be apprehended soon.

“We are on his trail and we have a lead that is giving us useful information and we assure the people that he will soon be re-arrested and made to face the full weight of the law,” she assured.

It would be recalled that 52-year-old Chief, Eyo Eyo Bassey, Village Head of Ikot Obot and a staff of Audit Department, Cross River State Ministry of Finance was assassinated by his assailants in his farm near a Primary school at Ikot –Obot late last year over an alleged land tussle between him and some people in the community.