Residents of Aladja community in the Udu Local Government Area of Delta State have expressed growing concerns about their safety following the escape of two notorious armed robbers from a police cell at the Ovwian/Aladja Police Division. The community is now calling on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to hold the Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Zone 5 and the Delta State Commissioner of Police accountable for the incident.

Emmanuel Emetejitaye, the Chairman of the Aladja Welfare Council (youth), conveyed the fears of the community. Speaking on behalf of the youth, he stated, "As of today, the lives of everyone involved in the operations are at risk. No one knows who might become a victim of these armed robbers seeking revenge."

The incident occurred after four armed robbers, who had been apprehended by a local volunteer security group in Aladja on December 31, 2024, were handed over to the Ovwian/Aladja Police Division for further investigation and prosecution. However, the youths were shocked to learn from the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO 1), identified as Musa, that two of the criminals had managed to escape from the police cell.

"We asked how they escaped, considering that the Ovwian/Aladja Police Station cell is known to be well-fortified. Was the lock broken? They said no. Were the walls breached? They said no. Then how did two of the most dangerous suspects manage to escape? There was no explanation," Emetejitaye recounted.

The community is now urging the IGP to hold the AIG of Zone 5 accountable and ensure the immediate rearrest of the escaped robbers. Emetejitaye also called for a thorough investigation into the actions of the officers on duty during the escape, citing several inconsistencies that raise suspicion.

"The station has about five cells, but only the cell holding the two escapees was unlocked. Is that not suspicious? If there were others in that cell, why didn’t they escape too? The robbers would have had to pass through a long passage to exit the station. Where were the officers on duty, including the station guards, when this happened?" he asked.

The community believes the police's failure to secure the suspects undermines the efforts of local security operatives. Emetejitaye urged the government to restore the community's confidence by ensuring justice is served and taking swift action to recapture the escaped criminals.

He concluded by calling on both the Delta State Government and the IGP to investigate the circumstances surrounding the escape, stressing that the safety of the community remains at risk until the armed robbers are brought back into custody.