Controller General, Nigeria Correctional Service.
By Kelvin Peter – Warri
A heavy rainstorm on Monday evening destroyed some sections of the Okere Correctional Centre formerly called Okere Prisons in Warri, Delta state.
The rainstorm which started at about 4.p.m destroyed the roof of buildings housing hundreds of inmates and a section of the fence at the Warri prisons.
The incident left inmates in the Correctional Centre drenched in the rain.
Sources at the centre confirmed the incident to our correspondent on a condition of anonymity.
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“The rain accompanied by heavy winds destroyed the roof of the building causing the entire building to be flooded.
“Another building was also affected; the wall of the prisons was damaged. No inmate escaped from the facility.
“The development led to the deployment of more security agencies to the premises to prevent inmates from escaping from the centre.
“One of the buildings housing inmates and warders’ offices at the prisons was also partially torched.
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When contacted for comments, the State Police Public Relations Officers, DSP Onome Onovwakpoyeya, confirmed the incident, saying that no inmate absconded from the facility.
“Following the development, security agencies, comprising the police led by the Warri Area Commander rushed to the facility to restore normalcy and beef up security.”
“As soon as it happened, policemen from A and B Divisions and other divisions under the Warri Area Command including the Area Commander himself were quickly deployed to the scene to beef of security at the facility.
“It was the roof and the fence that were damaged. I am not aware of inmate escaping during the incident. Tactical teams and Quick Response were also deployed.”
