Several serving inmates at the Okere Prison in Warri South Area of Delta State have been linked to a robbery that took place in Benin City, Edo State, on January 3, 2025.
The incident saw a group of armed assailants steal valuable items from a young man and transfer N4 million to an online bank account during the crime.
Initial investigations into the robbery were slow, with the victim’s report to the Edo State Police Command yielding little progress. However, a breakthrough came when the victim conducted a geo-analysis of the account associated with the crime, leading investigators to the Udu axis in Delta State.
This information prompted further investigation, ultimately uncovering the involvement of several inmates.
During questioning, the woman who held the bank account revealed that her boyfriend, whom she met online, had asked her to open the account after claiming his phone had fallen into a river. She also disclosed that he instructed her to withdraw large sums of money and transfer them to various accounts, unaware that the money was tied to the robbery.
Further investigation by authorities led them to the Warri Correctional Facility, where they traced the robbery operation to several inmates. However, when the police stormed the prison, they were met with resistance from prison officials who initially refused to produce the suspects.
Despite this, the authorities were able to apprehend one suspect—a death row inmate—who confirmed his participation in the robbery.
Engr. Udoka Emmanuel Chika-dibie, the Executive Assistant (Security) to the Delta State Governor, confirmed the report on Monday, revealing that some corrupt prison officials had allegedly taken bribes to allow the inmates to leave the prison for criminal activities and return without suspicion.
He emphasized that these inmates were able to commit the robbery in Benin City, return to prison, and continue their sentences undetected due to the collusion with prison staff.
Chika-dibie described the robbery, saying, ”
Monday noted that some corrupt prison officials were alleged to have collected bribes and allowed the inmates to leave the prison for criminal activities and return without suspicion.
He added that the inmates involved in the robbery were reportedly able to carry out their operation in Benin City, return to the prison, and continue their sentences undetected due to the collusion with prison staff.
He said; “A young man was robbed on January 3rd 2025 in Benin by armed men who took valuable items and transferred a significant amount of money to an online banking account during the incident (4million).
“The victim initially reported the crime to the Edo State Police Command, but no progress was made in identifying the assailants.
“On hearing on the progresses made by our super cop, CSP ALIYU SHABA in exposing the killers of Paulinus Okon at Otokutu, they decided to bring their case to Ekpan Police station.
“The victim had conducted a geo analysis of the account which pointed to the Udu axis, leading to further investigation.
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“The DPO arrested the account holder who confessed that her boyfriend owned the account.
“I met him online and we started talking and one thing led to another, he started professing love and I accepted.
“He told me he works offshore and have so many staff under him. He called me early January and told me that his phone fell into the River but expecting to receive some money and asked me to help him open the bank account which I obliged. Later, he sent a lady to pick the ATM of the very account from me.
“On the 4th of January, I got alert of 4million and told him. Later that day, he sent account numbers to me with instruction to pay some 600k, some 1.5million some 1million etc.
“The DPO decided to run advanced analysis on the accounts and traced it to Warri correctional prison.
“He immediately stormed the facility with his men and some of the arrested suspects. On arrival, one of the suspect (girl) sighted one of the star suspects but the prison officials refused to produce the young man except one who is serving a death sentence that also participated in the robbery.
“So what happened is that, inmate left the prison custody and travelled to Benin city to rob and eventually returned.
“All the robbers involved in this crime are serving inmates but because we have corrupt officials, they take bribes and allow the criminal inmates to go out for operations and return.”
The case has sparked outrage and calls for immediate reforms within the Nigerian correctional system.
A source confirmed that as of Tuesday only one of the four kidnappers from the prison gang had been handed over to the police.
The source lamented, “We refused to be intimidated by prison officials. This morning, under pressure, the prison officials called the police to arrest the other three suspects who are inside the prison. What kind of a country is this? Those sentenced to death inside the prison come out to rob and kidnap, then return to the prison living large. If we do not interrogate the system, we have failed our generation.”
The case underscores the pressing need for reforms within the Nigerian correctional system and the need to root out corruption that allows inmates to operate outside prison walls.
