Police declare Melaye wanted as his accusers ‘escape from custody’

The Kogi state command of the Nigeria Police Force has declared Dino Melaye, senator representing Kogi west, wanted.

Ali Janga, commissioner of police in the state, disclosed this at a press conference on Wednesday.

Janga said two suspects, Kabiru Seidu alias Osama and Nuhu Salisu alias Small, who accused Melaye of supplying arms to them, have escaped from custody.

He said they fled from a police division in Lokoja where they were being kept in “lawful custody”.

According to him, four other suspects escaped along with Seidu and Salisu, bringing the total number of fleeing suspects to six.

He said both Seidu and Salisu escaped on Wednesday when they were supposed to be arraigned before a federal high court in lokoja, alongside Melaye and Mohammed Audu, son of the late Abubakar Audu, former governor of Kogi.

The commissioner identified Aliyu Isa, Adams Suleiman, Emmanuel Audu and Musa Mohammed as four other suspects that escaped from custody around 3:21am on Thursday.

He said 13 policemen comprising five operatives of special anti-robbery squad (SARS) and eight conventional policemen on duty when the incident happened had been detained for interrogation.

Janga said the police declared six suspects, including Melaye and Audu, wanted.

He said the police sought the assistance of Interpol in arresting the suspects.

“The Nigeria Police Force, Kogi state police command today 28th March 2018 received a news that six suspected criminal elements namely; Kabiru Seidu a.k.a Osama, Nuhu Salisu a.k.a Small, Aliyu Isa, Adams Suleiman, Emmanuel Audu and Musa Mohammed who were under detention at the ‘A’ Division Lokoja escaped from lawful custody,” the statement read.

“Investigation into the unfortunate incident is ongoing, while the 13 police officers who were on duty when the incident occurred were defaulted and detained for interrogation.

“The names of Melaye, Mohammed Audu and six suspects have been sent for watchlisting and red notice by the INTERPOL for immediate arrest anywhere we see them.”

He appealed to the public to assist the police with information on the whereabouts of the suspects by reporting to the nearest police station.