- During the protest, the inmates refused to take orders from the custodial officials and also shunned breakfast.
- They converged on the center of the prison yard while shouting on top of their voices but the custodial officials used tear gas to force them back to their rooms
On Friday, inmates at the Jos Correctional Center in Plateau State protested against the dire economic conditions plaguing the country.
It was learnt that the protest started as soon as the prisoners heard about the correctional facility’s decision to reduce the portion sizes of food.
During the protest, the prisoners were alleged to have refused to follow orders from the custodial staff and to forgo breakfast.
The prisoners, shouting at the top of their lungs, gathered in the middle of the jail yard, according to Daily Trust.
They were, however, dispersed by the custodial officials, who used tear gas to force them back to their rooms.
The Comptroller of the Jos Correctional Center, Raphael Ibinuhi, confirmed the development, blaming the protest on high cost of living.
He said, “The problem has to do with the high cost of goods in the market. The contractor in charge of the foods said they are being forced by the price of food items to reduce the size of the plate of foods.
“So, it is the food size that provoked the protest. I don’t think the protest is necessary because the food challenge and the cost of items is a national issues that the federal government is already addressing.
“And I want to believe that since it is a national issue, whatever step taken by the federal government to address it will be felt everywhere in the country including the Correctional centers.”
WITHIN NIGERIA reports that there have been series of protests across the country due to the high level of economic hardship faced by citizens.
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