Nigerian Correctional Service records no jailbreaks in 2023, says official

The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) says it recorded zero jailbreaks and attacks in all 253 custodial centres across the country in 2023.

The spokesman, Assistant Controller of Corrections (ACC), Mr Abubakar Umar, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

Umar said that the government had taken comprehensive measures to bolster the security of the facilities and effectively counteract any potential threats, whether originating from internal or external sources.

He said that Nigeria had been haunted by alarming occurrences of vicious jailbreaks and attacks in previous years, adding that a lot of strategies were put in place to avert the trends across the nation.

He recalled that the management had announced on January 20 that 2023 would be a tough year for perpetrators of jailbreaks across the country as massive personnel and technology for intelligence gathering were deployed to forestall jail attacks.

This, he said, was both in terms of infrastructural development in the service for the year 2023 and security strategies to prevent what happened in the year 2022.

NAN reports that an incident occurred on July 5, 2022, involving the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), a breakaway faction of Boko Haram, in which they successfully carried out an attack on a Nigerian highly fortified custodial centre in Abuja.

By overpowering the vigilant security personnel, the group managed to infiltrate the Kuje Medium Security Custodial Centre, resulting in a significant escape of 879 inmates, of whom more than half were later apprehended.

Umar said that the absence of jail attacks in Nigeria in 2023 was a testament to the robust security measures and the dedicated efforts of the security personnel, which included various stakeholders.

He said that it reflected the commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment within custodial centres, ensuring the well-being of inmates and staff alike.

“This achievement should be celebrated as a significant milestone in upholding law and order in the country, “he said.

According to Umar, the fact that there were no jail attacks recorded in Nigeria in 2023 is truly remarkable.

“It speaks volumes about the effectiveness of the top-level security measures that have been diligently upheld in our custodial centres across the nation.

“Ensuring the safety and security of these facilities is of utmost importance, as it not only protects the inmates but also the dedicated staff who work tirelessly to maintain order and rehabilitation within the system.

“This accomplishment can be attributed to a combination of factors. It reflects the dedication and professionalism of the security personnel who diligently carry out their duties, implementing robust protocols and procedures to prevent any untoward incidents.

“Our commitment to upholding the highest standards of security is commendable and should be recognised, “he said.

Speaking further, Umar said that proper inmate rehabilitation and reintegration had also contributed to the peace enjoyed in all custodial centres in Nigeria.

He said that caring for inmates’ was a huge task, adding that the safety and peace of the custodial centres were the public safety given to societies in the country.