A suspect facing human trafficking charges has escaped from Lodwar Police Station shortly after being arrested in the Nepak area.
According to a report obtained by Citizen Digital, Jamal Ali was one of 26 suspects bundled into several police Land Cruisers and transported to Lodwar Police Station. Ali, seated in the front cabin between Sergeant Denis Ogutu and Police Constable Stephen Mutwiri, was observant as they approached the station.
Shortly after the driver exited the vehicle, the suspect made a run for it, heading toward the northern side of the station and jumping onto a waiting motorcycle. Alarmed by the incident, the officers pursued Ali in a high-speed chase, with additional officers joining the effort to apprehend him. However, their attempts were thwarted as the suspect managed to evade capture.
In the aftermath of the incident, Sergeant Ogutu and PC Mutwiri were arrested to determine if they had any involvement in the escape, suggesting a possible inside job. Their mobile phones have been retained as evidence.
The escapee was set to face charges of smuggling human beings, contrary to section 53(P) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act No. 12 of 2011. “Search efforts are ongoing to re-arrest the suspect at large,” the report stated.
This incident raises concerns about recent occurrences in which suspects have escaped from police stations, even those guarded by armed officers. In August 2024, Collins Jumaisi, suspected of killing at least 42 women in the Kware massacre, escaped from Gigiri Police Station and remains at large. Earlier this year, Kevin Kang’ethe, accused of killing his girlfriend in Boston, also escaped from police custody before being rearrested.
