About 19 suspected armed robbers and kidnappers have reportedly escaped from police custody in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.

The suspects who escaped between Saturday night and Sunday morning December 13, after using a hacksaw to cut the key to the cell, were reportedly being detained at the police headquarters in Diamond Hill, Calabar.

Ms Irene Ugbo, the Cross River State Police Command spokesman however refuted the news. “The information is not true. Only three robbers attempted to escape but were arrested and returned to the cell”. she said.