Inmates stage protest in Edo prison

Some inmates awaiting trial at the Nigerian Correctional Service custodial centre in Edo state, on Thursday, staged a protest leading to unrest at the facility.

According to NAN, the inmates, especially recaptured escapees, started a protest which led to a confrontation between them and convicted inmates.

The protesting inmates were said to have been remanded at the Sapele road facility in Benin, the Edo capital, over their alleged involvement in the 2020 #EndSARS protests.

According to Aminu Suleman, spokesman of the Nigerian Correctional Service in Edo state, the inmates bolted away from the centre recently but were recaptured.

Suleman said the situation has been brought under control with assistance from the command’s headquarters in Benin and normalcy has returned to the facility.

“There was no escape of any inmate and no death was recorded,” Suleman said.

“Sister security agencies also showed solidarity by drafting their men around the outer perimeter fence to complement the correctional service armed squad personnel and ensure total security of the custodial centre.”

Suleiman assured the public that investigation into the incident had been instituted to unravel the immediate and remote cause of the disturbance.

In April, some officers at the correctional centre in Ubiaja, Edo state, sustained injuries when some inmates attempted to break out of prison.

Some correctional facilities in Oyo and Kogi state were also recently breached, with a number of inmates escaping incarceration.