Officials report that the most wanted fugitive in Guinea, a former senior military officer who broke out of prison in November of last year, has been extradited from neighbouring Liberia along with his son.
The military prosecutor for Guinea said that ex-Col Claude Pivi, who was found guilty in absentia for his involvement in the 2009 killing of opposition supporters at a stadium in the country’s capital Conakry, will now serve his life sentence.
During a regular security check on Tuesday, he and his son, Verny Pivi, were taken into custody at the border between the two states.
Photos circulating online showed Pivi looking frail and handcuffed alongside his son, who is accused of orchestrating the prison break that freed his father.
Ex-military leader Moussa Dadis Camara was also freed, but was quickly recaptured.
He is serving a 20-year prison sentence for crimes against humanity.
The charges stemmed from one of the worst massacres in the nation’s history – the killing of more than 156 people after troops opened fire at an opposition rally in September 2009 to demand a return of civilian rule.
The authorities had offered a reward of $58,000 (£43,700) for his capture.
Pivi is back in the main prison in Conakry to serve his life sentence, military prosecutor Colonel Aly Camara said on Thursday.
“He was brought back to the central prison to serve his sentence in accordance with the law,” Col Camara added.
Fatoumata Diariou Camara, one of those caught up in the violence at the rally, told reporters she was “overjoyed” that he had been recaptured.
“I pray that he will remain in prison forever,” she said.
