Abdullahi Sule, Nasarawa state governor, has bemoaned the large number of inmates awaiting trial at Keffi Medium Correctional Centre. The governor disclosed this on Wednesday during a visit to the facility in Keffi LGA of the state.
The visit by the governor comes a day after 16 inmates reportedly escaped from the facility. According to the governor, the facility is congested due to cases of inmates before the federal capital territory court.
To reduce the facility congestion, Sule promised that his administration would fast-track trials of the accused persons in the facility. Following this, the Nasarawa state governor urged the inmates to be of good behaviour and law-abiding.
During the visit, Sule directed that 500 mattresses be supplied to the centre by the state government to improve the inmates’ living conditions. Additionally, he announced the donation of one million naira for the upkeep of the prisoners.
Read also:16 inmates flee after Keffi jail facility breach
He reiterated that one of the reasons for his visit was to understand the reasons behind Tuesday’s jailbreak in the facility. He expressed that it is his responsibility to approach FCT officials to know the best way of decongesting the centre.
Acknowledging the need for security reinforcement, he noted that addressing the prisoners’ living conditions would reduce jailbreak frequency in the country. Meanwhile, the governor commended the security agencies and men of the service for apprehending some of the escapees.
He concluded by urging citizens in the state to remain vigilant and report suspicious persons to security agencies. At present, seven of the 16 prisoners who escaped have been recaptured, while a manhunt has commenced to apprehend the other 9 inmates.
