Seventeen suspects in Mansa District, Luapula Province have escaped from lawful custody after overpowering police on duty around midnight.

Police Deputy Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga explains that at 00:20hrs Sergeant Laston Siagwaka and Constable Daniel Ngwile opened the cells door to detain a suspect identified as Susiku Nalumino who was brought from Saint Clement Secondary School for the offence of Conduct Likely to Cause the breach of peace.

Mr. Hamoonga says it was at that point that the suspects who were in custody pushed the door there by overpowering the officers and escaped.

“Those who escaped include: Prince Chinyata facing Aggravated Robbery and Rape, Ephraim Kombe,Charles Mwila,Robert Chansa,Kabaso Malama,Martin Mwaba and Ottis Musonda all facing the offence of Robbery. Joseph Chola,Sydney Musongole,Peter Mambwe and Lewis Mwewa all facing the offence of theft, Isaac Nkanzi, Peter Sinyangwe and James Yumba all facing the offense of trafficking in psychotropic substances, Oliver Mulenga and Jackson Katuba both facing Breakings cases and Emmanuel Chikota facing the offence of Assault,” he said.

He further explains that in an effort to stop the suspects from escaping officers gunned down one suspect and wounded two others who managed to escape.

He discloses that later at 01:30hrs Isaac Nkanzi was brought back to the Police Station by his father Sydney Nkanzi, bringing the remaining number of suspects at large to 15.

Mr. Hamoonga has since appealed to the general public who may have any information that may lead to the arrest of any of these suspects to report to the nearest police station as soon as it is possible.