Police search for six prisoners who escaped from Garissa remand

The Garissa Police Station, from whose cells six prisoners escaped on the night of January 17, 2017. Police are looking for them. PHOTO | ABDIMALIK HAJIR | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The six made the daring escape through the back of the cells after scaling toilet walls in the prison.
  • They were among 21 prisoners being help in the police cells.
  • The she six were facing different charges and were due to appear in court.
  • Internal investigation to ascertain whether officers on duty slept on their job have begun.

Police have launched a manhunt for six prisoners who escaped from the Garissa Police Station remand on Tuesday night.

Garissa OCPD Aron Moriasse said the detainees made the daring escape through the back of the cells after scaling toilet walls in the prison.

They were among 21 prisoners being held in the police cells.

He said police were investigating the incident and looking for the escapees, who are aged between 15 to 21 years.

"We have already launched a manhunt for the prisoners, who are well known as we also carry out investigations to know the circumstances that led them to escape from custody," he told journalists in his office.

He said they are also looking into whether officers on duty slept on their job.

APPEAL TO PUBLIC

"We are also appealing to members of the public to immediately inform the police whenever they see these suspects out there," he added.

He said the six were facing different charges and were due to appear in court.

The escapees were identified as Suleiman Mohamed and Anwar Said Mohamed (defilement cases); Maulid Mohamed (convict at Shimo la Tewa Prison); Abdi Musa (grievous bodily harm charge); Dida Mohamed (house breaking); and Adan Omar (stock theft).

Musa and Said Mohamed were set to be charged at the Garissa Law Courts on February 6 and 28, respectively.

The police boss said the six are not dangerous criminals, noting that none of them was facing capital offence or murder charges.