Ovedhe Hezekiah and Kelvin Peter – Warri
Inmates of the Nigerian Correctional Service Centre, Sapele, Delta state protested on Monday 27th April, burnt prisons records and attempted to break out of jail.
The attempt was foiled by a combined team of men of the Prisons service, Police and DSS.
It was learnt that the inmates protested over a newly introduced policy by the Nigerian Correctional Service preventing their loved ones from seeing them, giving them palliatives and for not being considered in the recent prerogative of mercy granted by the Governor through the Chief Judge of Delta State, Justice Marshal Mukoro.
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A source said the inmates protested the non – release of about 25 inmates granted amnesty by the government.
It was learnt that the inmates demonstrated within the facility and allegedly burnt down vital documents belonging to the correctional centre.
Meanwhile source at the Center said that, fire brigade van was driven in to put off the fire with several security men on the ground, the prisoners refused to calm down.
Smoke oozing out from the Correctional centre in Sapele.
The Delta State Comptroller of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Comptroller Friday Ovie in a telephone chat confirmed that there was riot by the inmates at the facility but he said he does not know the reason why the inmates were protesting.
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“I’m yet to get to that place. I cannot tell you this is what happened now until when I get there to know the cause of their rioting.”
When contacted for comments, the Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Hafiz Inuwa in a text message to our correspondent said,”the report I received from DPO is that, inmates were demonstrating over the correctional service newly introduced policy preventing their loved ones from seeing them, giving them gifts and non-consideration in the recent reprieves/visit by the CJ.”
CP Inuwa noted that it was just a demonstration stressing, “it is not a prison break.” He also said the DPO is making efforts to make sure they calm down.
As at the time of filing this report, the fire at Sapele Correctional Center has been put off by fire fighters from the Local Government Council, while security men have surrounded the facility to escape of the inmates in what was described as a botched coup.
