A 27-year-old convict, Ibrahim Yahaya has died after allegedly attempting to flee from custody, resulting in a fatal encounter with corrections personnel.
Confirming the tragic occurrence, SP Josephine Adeh, the Police Public Relations Officer in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), issued a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.
Yahaya, apprehended by operatives of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) Task Force, faced trial and conviction by a Mobile Court seated in Wuse Market. As he and other convicts were being transported to prison, Yahaya purportedly made a desperate bid for freedom, jumping from the vehicle and sprinting away.
Two armed corrections personnel, accompanying the convoy, pursued Yahaya, ultimately resorting to lethal force. The convict was swiftly transported to a nearby hospital, where medical professionals pronounced him dead.
According to her, the development led some irate mobs who witnessed the situation to set ablaze, eight vehicles and 10 shops in the environ.
Despite the chaos, the combined efforts of the Federal Fire Service and various security agencies managed to restore order to the area.
SP Adeh assured the public that an investigation into the incident is underway, spearheaded by the Commissioner of Police (CP) for the FCT, Mr Benneth Igweh.
In a bid to quell rising tensions, CP Igweh urged residents to conduct themselves peacefully and resume their lawful activities without fear.