Braveheart Initiative a youth-led nongovernmental organization devoted to promoting sexual and reproductive health among young people and advancing women’s rights, has welcomed with great relief the re-arrest of Jacob Alonge, a sexual offences fugitive who has been on the run for four years.
Alonge escaped from Nigeria Correctional Services Edo State in October 2020, where he was serving a 21-year sentence for the incestuous rape and brutalization of his teenage daughter.
During the course of his trial, Braveheart initiative lost two of its staff members on the way to the court sitting in Benin City in what was described as a mysterious accident.
In a press statement celebrating the re-arrest yesterday of the fleeing fugitive, Executive Director of the Initiative Ms. Priscilla Usiobaifo said that ‘’The re-arrest today is a victory for justice and for the parents of Rhoda Braimoh and Promise Ezekiel, two of the BraveHeart Initiative staff involved in the court prosecution who died in a mysterious accident alongside others.’’
Ms. Usiobaifo stated that for four years, Jacob Alonge received tipoffs and avoided rearrests in his home community, Ososo where he was in hiding. She stated that ironically, Alonge’s arrest would have been impossible without the tipoff and collaboration of concerned men and women in the same community as disclosed by security sources.
‘’The re-arrest confirms the maxim that the hands of the law are never too short to catch up with a criminal. We are encouraged by the determination and courage of the undercover police officers who work tirelessly to effect the final arrest the statement added
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The Braveheart Initiative called on the Nigeria Correctional Services to take adequate steps to prevent another escape by Alonge and to continue to prioritize the re-arrest of several other inmates who escaped alongside Alonge during the 2020 jailbreak and who remained free from justice. ‘’All inmates and detainees who escaped during the jailbreak in 2020 alongside Alonge must be rearrested to restore public safety across communities in Edo state.’’
The organization expressed its appreciation to the Edo State Commissioner of Police, his gallant officers and the local intelligence team who stood on the side of justice by exposing and fostering the re-arrest of Alonge.
‘’We at BHI remain committed to exposing and tackling all forms of gender-based violence in Edo State. We count on the continued support of the Edo State Government, Edo State Police Command, Traditional and Religious leaders, Vigilante Groups, Youth Associations, Women Groups, Community Networks and the media’’ the statement added.
