The Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) is about to introduce superior know-how to main custodial centres throughout the nation to reinforce safety and stop incidents resembling escapes, riots, and assaults.
This was disclosed by the Appearing Controller Common of the NCoS, Sylvester Nwakuche, throughout his inaugural assembly with senior officers of the service in Abuja on Monday.
Nwakuche revealed that the Minister of Inside, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has assured the service of his dedication to offering technological assist.
He emphasised the important significance of safety in custodial centres, warning that any lapses in safety attributable to indolence would appeal to extreme penalties.
“The minister has assured us that apart from the supply of human and bodily safety, the deployment of know-how to most of our main Custodial Centres might be a prime precedence,” Nwakuche acknowledged.
Addressing previous safety breaches
Reflecting on current challenges, Nwakuche acknowledged the safety breaches which have plagued the service, together with exterior assaults on services that led to inmate escapes.
“As you might be conscious, the Service has, in current occasions, been within the eye of the storm. This is because of difficult circumstances which have tended to solid doubt on its integrity,” he stated.
“It’s apposite to state, that exterior assaults on our services resulted within the escape of some inmates within the current previous, and these resulted within the unlucky safety challenges confronted by the nation on the time.
“Additionally, different malfeasance that compromised the sanctity of the Service are nonetheless inexcusable and mustn’t ever be tolerated,” he stated.
Safety as a nationwide precedence
Nwakuche aligned the service’s safety goals with President Bola Tinubu’s eight precedence areas, highlighting the second precedence: strengthening nationwide safety for peace and prosperity.
“The main target right here is in direction of creating an atmosphere of peace and prosperity for each citizen, whether or not free or incarcerated. By this, the nation is safeguarded, and a way of safety is promoted,” he defined.
He careworn that conserving inmates in secured custody is a core mandate of the NCoS. He additionally inspired officers to embody resilience in addressing the challenges confronted by the service.
What it is best to know
A heavy downpour on April 24, 2024, brought about in depth harm to the Medium Safety Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State, resulting in the escape of over 100 inmates.
The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) promptly activated its recapture protocols and apprehended 10 of the escaped inmates, with efforts ongoing to find the remaining escapees.The NCoS acknowledged that a lot of its services, together with the Suleja Custodial Centre, had been constructed throughout the colonial period, making them susceptible to structural failures.They launched the photographs, names, and different figuring out particulars of the escaped inmates to facilitate their recapture.On June 6, 2024, the NCoS spokesperson, Abubakar Umar, confirmed that 23 escapees had been recaptured.The Appearing Controller Common of Corrections, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, has expressed confidence that every one the escaped inmates might be recaptured quickly.
