Two operatives of
the Lagos State Command are being detained for their alleged involvement in the
release of a suspected serial killer, Ibrahim Balogun aka Small-
Jpron.
The 36-year-old, who
was notorious for cultism and killings in the Somolu and Bariga areas of Lagos,
was said to have escaped from prison with the help of the policemen and other
judicial officials at large.
Small-Jpron was
earlier arrested in August 2016, and paraded at the command’s headquarters in
Ikeja, where he confessed his involvement in the killings of three persons.
He had said, “I am
an Eiye cult leader. I joined the cult in 2009. The reason for my joining was
to avenge the death of a close friend, Sunday Folorunsho, aka Small Biscuit.
“It was the Aiye
cult members who killed him. So, the Eiye faction approached me and said I
should join them and they would help me fish out the people who killed my
friend. I have killed three persons, among whom were Femi Wiper and Lekan
Akon.”
Small-Jpron was
arraigned at an Ebute-Meta Magistrate’s Court. He disappeared from the public
radar afterwards.
Good news is that he
was re-arrested on Monday.
Although the suspect
insisted that he was granted bail by the court, the Lagos State Commissioner of
Police, Fatai Owoseni, while parading him at the command headquarters on
Wednesday, said he escaped from custody in connivance with the two police
operatives.
The CP said the
policemen, whose names were not disclosed, were under investigation, adding
that other persons involved in the suspect’s release would be brought to book.
He said, “The
suspect broke out of prison shortly after he was remanded. The circumstances
surrounding his escape are being investigated. We are also investigating the
complicity of two of our officials in ensuring his escape from the prison.
“We will not leave
any stone unturned. Any judicial official found to be involved will also be
brought to book.”
In a chat with
Punch, Small-Japron, who was said to be the leader of the Eiye Confraternity,
stated that he was in the court for the continuation of his trial on the day he
was re-arrested.
He explained that
the police had brought him and his “second-in-command”, identified simply as
Abbey, for arraignment in September 2016, when the latter disappeared.
The suspect claimed
that he had denounced his membership of the cult, adding that his “former
group” instigated his arrest.
He said, “When I was
in prison, a brother in my area called Asuma told me not to worry that he would
ensure my release. He is an omoonile (land grabber). He said he would see one
justice over my case. I didn’t fight anybody again. I had gone to the court on
Monday when policemen arrested me.
“Eiye cult members
are fighting me because I told them I was no longer interested in the group.
They set me up that day.
“The policemen asked
me where Abbey was and I said I didn’t know. They told me that the prosecutor
and the IPO (Investigating Police Officer) had been detained and that they
wanted to know how he escaped on the first day we were brought to court. I have
never jumped bail since I was arraigned in court.”
Investigation is
ongoing in the matter.
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