FG vows to prevent future jailbreaks, begins inspection of custodial centres

• The minister said that government plans to relocate some custodial facilities facing challenges due to urbanization.
• He added that the government plans to erect concrete perimeter fences around the facilities to prevent future breaches.

The Federal Government has promised to prevent a repeat of the incident that occurred at the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja on April 24.

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this vow after visiting the Karshi Custodial Centre in Abuja and the old and new custodial centres in Keffi, Nasarawa State.

The minister inspected the facilities to assess their condition and capacity.

He reiterated his determination to relocate some custodial facilities that are facing challenges due to urbanization.

Tunji said the government’s goal is to enhance the security and capacity of its 256 Custodial Centres nationwide.

Recall that on April 24, rainfall destroyed the walls of the Suleja Custodial Centre and led to the escape of 118 inmates, some of whom are still at large.

Tunji-Ojo, at the New Medium Security Custodial Centre in Keffi, said a total of 750 inmates were being held in the facility, with a capacity for 340 inmates. Of the 750 inmates, a total of 605 of them were awaiting trial.

“Our correctional centres, as we said, have changed from prisons to the Correctional Service. And obviously, it means that there has to be a paradigm shift in ideology, from a place of incarceration to a place of transformation, a place of reformation, and a place of correction.

“We were earlier at Karshi to look at the work that is going on there with regards to the 3000-capacity Custodial Centre. Of course, we have one or two observations, which I would not like to share in front of the cameras.

“When we get back to the office, then we will sit down as the ministry and the NCoS come together to brainstorm solutions to some of the issues we realized.

“Here in Keffi, the custodial centres are highly populated and the number of inmates is quite high. We have in Keffi alone, two correctional centres, Keffi new and Keffi old; we have over 1000. That is a huge number – almost 1500.

“We came to look at it, and of course, you know a lot of inmates from FCT get here. We have come to look, and we saw the perimeter fencing because, as we have always said, we do not want a repeat of what happened in Suleja.”

The Minister said part of the measures is to erect concrete perimeter fences around the facilities.