‘The cell where inmates died was overcrowded’ — CG speaks on electrocution at Ikoyi

Ja’afaru Ahmed, controller general of Nigeria Correctional Service, says the cell in which some inmates got electrocuted at the Ikoyi Custodial Centre, has a capacity of 35 but inhabited 140 persons.

Some inmates at the Centre were electrocuted on Monday morning while 10 others sustained injuries in the incident.

In a statement, Francis Enobore, spokesman of the service, quoted Ahmed as describing the incident as “tragic and most ill-fated”.

He said it is the first of its kind in the history of the service, adding that investigation is still ongoing.

“Early this morning, the Controller General of Corrections, Ja’afaru Ahmed, received with the deepest grief, the unfortunate death of five inmates of Ikoyi Medium Security Custodial Centre, Lagos, as a result of an electrical fault in one of the cells. This is indeed tragic and most ill-fated,” the statement read.

“The CG, who visited the scene of the incident with the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, noted that it was the first time in the history of the NCoS to experience such a disaster. He, therefore, ordered an immediate investigation into the sad incident with a view to taking necessary actions in order to forestall future occurrence.

“As of the time of the incident, Ikoyi Medium Security Custodial Center built in 1955 for 800 inmates, had a population of 3,113 with 2,680 as awaiting trial persons. The particular cell where the disaster occurred has a capacity for 35 but held 140 inmates.”

Ahmed commiserated with the family of the deceased inmates, while he prayed for the quick recovery of the injured victims.

He assured the public of the safety of inmates, adding that their welfare will be prioritised.