A Nigerian drug dealer, Tony Obina, has been recaptured after escaping from the Kakata Central Prison in Margibi County, Liberia. Obina was among inmates who escaped from the correctional facility on Sunday, according to reports from Liberia. The escape was confirmed by Liberia's Ministry of Justice, which stated that a jailbreak had occurred at the Kakata Central Prison, resulting in the escape of several inmates.
The Ministry of Justice informed the public that a search and recapture operation was underway, with the Joint Security of Liberia alerted to the situation. Security personnel were actively searching for and pursuing the escaped inmates. A video posted online by West Trybe News Media showed Obina and another man being returned to the prison after they were found by local residents. In the video, Obina was seen wearing only a pair of blue boxers as he was escorted back to the correctional facility.
The Ministry of Justice stated that the Bureau of Corrections and Rehabilitation was verifying prison records to establish the exact number and identities of the inmates who escaped. The ministry said that once this process was concluded, it would release the names and other identification information of the inmates who escaped and were on the run. This information would assist the public and security authorities in locating them.
Obina was recently convicted by a 12-member jury at the 13th Judicial Circuit Court in Margibi County in a major drug-trafficking case. He was convicted alongside two officers of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, Joe Logan and Lovette Flowers, in a case involving drugs reportedly valued at about US$181,008 and more than L$63.2 million.
The Ministry of Justice urged residents to remain vigilant and provide information about the whereabouts of escaped inmates to the nearest police station or other security authorities. However, it warned members of the public against attempting to apprehend or harbour any of the escapees. The public was advised not to attempt to apprehend any of the escapees themselves or harbour them.
According to reports, Obina and the two Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency officers were apprehended by community members and authorities while allegedly attempting to flee following the prison escape. The Ministry of Justice said that the Joint Security would provide further information as the operation continued.
The recapture of Obina comes as a major development in the case, with authorities working to bring all escaped inmates back into custody. The incident highlights the need for continued vigilance and cooperation between security authorities and the public to prevent and respond to prison breaks.
Key points
- Tony Obina, a Nigerian drug dealer, was recaptured after escaping from the Kakata Central Prison in Margibi County, Liberia.
- The escape and recapture occurred amid a major drug-trafficking case in which Obina was convicted alongside two Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency officers.
- Authorities are continuing to search for other escaped inmates and have urged the public to provide information to assist in their recapture.
