Police have been directed to recapture the five inmates that escaped from the Naboro Corrections Centre last night – in the next 24 hours.
The directive was given by Police Commissioner Brigadier General Iowane Naivalurua today.
Police spokesperson Ana Naisoro says over the next 24 hours – their main priority will be to recapture the five.
As such – road blocks will be erected especially during peak hours…an opportunity Police believe the escapees will use to move out of the Central and Southern Division.
Naisoro says all relevant manpower and resources have been directed towards this operation.
Members of the public and in particular family members and relatives of the inmates are warned not to harbor them but to go to the police if they have any information that could lead to their arrest.
Meanwhile police are now trying to ascertain whether the five escapees are linked to a spate of robberies that occurred in the Central and Southern Division last night and into the early hours of this morning.
Right now allegations that they are linked to the five that escaped. We have to determine that there is a link wand for that investigation is still continuing. We have recovered one of the stolen vehicles and we have recovered a cash register.
At 10.50pm an eight seater van was reported stolen at Lower Ragg Avenue.
It is alleged that at 12.30 am a group of men robbed the Wish Bone Restaurant in Centrepoint and stole the cash register.
A report was later received from Muanikau where a group of men forcefully broke into a home of a doctor and stole items to the total value of $3,900.00.
Half an hour later it is alleged a group of masked men armed with pinch bars and beer bottles entered and threatened the staff of Peninsula hotel and stole items to the total value of $329.00 property belonging to the receptionist.
The five escapees are Isoa Waqa, Solomoni Qurai, Tevita Sugu, Josaia Usumaki and Epeli Qaraniqio.
Qurai is serving life for murder while the others are serving lengthy terms for violent robberies.
