A bizarre incident unfolded at a police station in Lusaka, Zambia, when a police officer, reportedly under the influence of alcohol, released 13 detainees to ring in the New Year.
The event, which occurred at Leonard Cheelo police station on December 31, has triggered a manhunt for the escaped suspects.
According to the BBC, Inspector Titus Phiri is accused of forcibly taking the cell keys from Constable Serah Banda and then unlocking both the male and female holding cells.
In a bizarre twist, Phiri allegedly told the prisoners they were free to leave, proclaiming they could “cross over into the new year.”
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga confirmed the incident, revealing that 13 out of 15 detainees — held for various offenses including assault, robbery, and burglary — made their escape.
Phiri, apparently intoxicated, then fled the scene, leaving authorities scrambling to track down both him and the escaped individuals. As of now, Phiri has not publicly commented on the allegations.
This unusual event has drawn comparisons to a similar incident in 1997, when the late High Court Judge Kabazo Chanda controversially ordered the release of 53 detainees, some of whom had been held without trial since 1992.
Judge Chanda, in his remarks, famously declared, “Justice delayed is justice denied,” while criticizing the lengthy detention of suspects.
Lawyer and former presidential spokesperson Dickson Jere took to Facebook to reflect on the current incident, humorously noting, “I keep laughing each time I picture the scenario – comical! But then, I remembered a similar incident in 1997.”
As the manhunt continues, the incident has sparked debate about justice, accountability, and the unpredictable consequences of a police officer’s holiday misstep.
