The Hope Behind Bars Africa, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) has urged the Federal Government to speed up efforts to reduce overcrowding in Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) custodial centres across the country.
The Senior Communications Manager of the NGO, Mr Obinna Ejiogu, said in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, that the FG also needed to immediately address the physical state of the custodial centres.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that no fewer than 119 inmates escaped from the Suleja Custodial Centre, in Niger State, due to the rainstorm that destroyed the Suleja facility on Wednesday.
Ejiogu said that Jailbreak as such had far reaching consequences on the society, adding that they increased the chances for escapees and present immediate security, safety and public health concerns for the local community.
He said that the sad news was of particular concern to the Hope Behind Bars Africa, as the organisation had made extensive rehabilitation and reformation efforts at Suleja facility.
Ejiogu said that this included the inauguration of a renovated Skills Centre for Women in the month of March, which he said was as part of the “Inside Out Hub” project by the NGO.
”we are sad to confirm that a jailbreak occurred at Suleja Correctional Centre last night, leading to the escape of 119 inmates,” he said.
According to him, this is due to heavy rainfall that caused severe damage to the perimeter fence of the facility, allowing the inmates to flee. Recovery efforts are currently underway by the NCoS.
”The jailbreak underscores the effects of deteriorating structures of the Custodial Centres of the NCoS, many of which were built in the colonial era and are now old and weak.
”The inadequate maintenance of these buildings, combined with overcrowding of the prisons is what contributes to a high likelihood of jailbreak.
”We call on the Government of Nigeria to do everything within its means to address the physical state of our custodial centres and to speed up efforts to reduce overcrowding.
”We also call on the public to pay more interest to issues concerning corrections in Nigeria, as they affect everyone’s safety,” he said.
