Audio By Carbonatix
The head of Nigeria's police has been given 24 hours to produce a terror attack suspect who escaped police custody under suspicious circumstances, a government minister said Thursday.
Minister of Police Affairs Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade said he and Police Inspector General Hafiz Ringim had been summoned to see President Goodluck Jonathan Wednesday over the escape.
The fugitive, identified by police as Kabiru Sokoto, is suspected to be the mastermind of a series of deadly church bombings on Christmas Day.
The bombings were claimed by Boko Haram, a militant Islamist group frequently blamed for sectarian violence in Nigeria.
A 50 million naira ($307,000) reward was offered by police Thursday for any information leading to Sokoto's capture and a photograph of him in custody has been distributed to all police stations in the country.
Ringim will face severe sanctions for negligence of duty if Sokoto is not found, Olubolade said in a statement.
"Anyone could be sacked, including myself," Olubolade said.
The suspect was initially detained successfully, but he escaped when suspected gang members attacked his police escort as he was being transferred to another town, police sources said Wednesday. The sources asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter.
Olubolade said he had directed that the officers involved in the transfer be immediately detained.
The police commissioner responsible for the suspect's secure transfer is currently under arrest, according to police sources.
They named the commissioner as Zakaria Biu, who himself hails from Borno state, the hub of Boko Haram's activities.
Jonathan declared a partial state of emergency December 31 in four northern states, Borno among them, to contain a wave of attacks by Boko Haram.
Police sources also pointed the finger at Boko Haram Wednesday for an attack on a Nigerian army outpost in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno, in which two soldiers were killed.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
GH¢70k is no ordinary gift, it raises serious ethical questions – Edem Senanu
5 minutes -
Accra-Kumasi Expressway will be Ghana’s biggest infrastructure project – Kwakye Ofosu
20 minutes -
Cape Coast pulses with colour, sound ahead of Fetu Afahye Â
21 minutes -
Nigerians die after inhaling toxic fumes during alleged pipeline theft, community group says
21 minutes -
CSSPS placement results to be released tonight at 10:00 pm
21 minutes -
Accra-Kumasi Expressway to be fully funded locally – Government
23 minutes -
US diesel prices hit an all-time-high
25 minutes -
Horticulture Expo: Gov’t targets stronger agric value chain to boost horticulture exports
28 minutes -
Reckless driving incidents fall by 38% across Africa – Yango report
29 minutes -
It is ‘FAKE’ – Patricia Appiagyei reacts to memo alleging rejection of GH¢70,000 money
32 minutes -
ICE agent charged with lying about shooting Venezuelan man during crackdown
32 minutes -
Police arrest landlord’s wife for allegedly biting tenant’s ear during a fight
36 minutes -
US diesel prices hit a record high, pushing up transportation costs for a long list of goods
38 minutes -
300 entrepreneurs in Bono East battle for MTN-Innohub SME Support as programme enters 4th year
52 minutes -
Lawyer sues AG, GRA boss over passenger baggage exemption rules
54 minutes