Steer clear of prisons, NCoS warns protesters

The Federal Government has declared all its 256 custodial centres across the country as “red zones” ahead of the August 1 planned nationwide anti-government protests.

The Controller-General of the Nigeria Correctional Service,  Haliru Nababa, said this in a Tuesday statement by the NCoS Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Umar.

Nababa emphasised that any person or group of persons who have no business whatsoever should steer clear of the custodial centres.

“In view of the purported national protest scheduled to hold on August 1, the service wishes to inform the public that the custodial centres have been designated as red zones.

“Furthermore, the service wishes to enjoin the public that custodial and non-custodial centres are critical national assets that are germane to public safety as well as national security.

“Tampering with or attacking them will lead to a breakdown of law and order, and further exacerbate the security of the society in general,” he said.

Nababa advised all members of the public to join hands with the service to ensure the protection of correctional facilities.

He said adequate security arrangements had been put in place to ensure that no correctional facility was “defiled”.

He added that the Ministry of Interior Joint Task Force had been activated to provide extra security in and around custodial facilities nationwide.

The NCoS boss appreciated the continuous cooperation of members of the public in ensuring peace and tranquility in and around correctional centres nationwide.

He urged public members to report any suspicious plan or movement to the NCoS.

In 2020, the massive nationwide #EndSARS protest led to the compromise of some custodial facilities, leading to jailbreaks during which over 2,000 inmates reportedly escaped.

In Edo State, hoodlums, in the guise of #EndSARS protesters, attacked the Oko and Benin custodial centres where a total of 1,993 inmates escaped, while 58 inmates escaped from the Okitipupa custodial centre in Ondo State.