It was a scene straight out of a prison break movie in Nakonde yesterday afternoon when 41 suspects pulled a daring escape from police custody, but by sunset, five had already been bundled back into cells.
According to police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga, chaos broke out around 16:00 hours when an officer went to deliver the usual nshima meal to inmates at Nakonde Police Station.
But instead, the officer got grabbed, dragged into the cells, and overpowered by hungry hands with freedom on their minds. 
In a flash, suspects including those accused of murder, robbery, defilement and drug trafficking, burst through the cell block and scattered like smoke through the town.
Police say the breakout was reported just five minutes later, and boots hit the ground immediately in a manhunt.
By 17:00 hours, five fugitives had been rounded up.
Among them were two teenagers, one just 15 years old, previously charged with vandalism, and an 18-year-old nabbed for theft.
Others are three grown men facing murder charges identified as Singoyi Stainely, 62, Edward Sikanyika, 33 and 21-year-old Chimwemwe Ng’ambi.
Ng’ambi, however, tried to make a run for it and ended up with a gunshot wound to the right pelvic area during the struggle.
He was rushed to Nakonde District Hospital and is said to be in stable condition.
The other four have been safely locked back in custody, with officers now shifting focus to the 36 others still on the run.
Police have since launched a full-blown operation to track them down, urging the public to stay alert and report any suspicious faces they might spot sneaking through their neighborhoods.
“The Service reiterates its commitment to maintaining law and order and ensuring that those who seek to subvert the justice system are brought to book without delay,” Hamoonga stated in a statement.
