By Huldah Shado
Controller General of Corrections, Sylvester Nwakuche, has issued a stern directive to all Zonal Coordinators, State Command Controllers, and heads of training institutions to urgently secure all custodial facilities or face strict consequences.
The order was given during an emergency virtual strategy session held on Tuesday, convened to assess and reinforce the security architecture of correctional facilities nationwide ahead of the upcoming festive season.
In a statement signed by the spokesperson of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS), Umar Abubakar, Nwakuche emphasized the critical need for proactive measures, warning that any form of laxity would not be tolerated.
“This is not just about concrete walls and iron bars, it’s about trust, duty, and the safety of every Nigerian,” Nwakuche stated.
The high-level session provided a platform for senior officers to share concerns, present progress reports, and receive direct feedback.
While the Controller General commended commendable efforts in some quarters, he stressed the need for greater innovation, vigilance, and responsibility across the board.
Key decisions reached at the meeting include the immediate auditing of all correctional facilities to identify and address vulnerabilities, the activation of proactive security protocols in high-risk centres, the identification and removal of weak links within the custodial chain, the intensification of surveillance and routine checks, and the strict enforcement of the zero-tolerance policy for negligence or collusion.
Nwakuche warned that any personnel implicated in security breaches whether through negligence or deliberate collusion would face serious disciplinary measures.
The meeting concluded with a renewed call for unity, discipline, and strengthened collaboration among correctional staff, alongside enhanced coordination with other security agencies and the general public.
This directive follows a wave of prison break incidents, including the recent escape of seven inmates from the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Ilesa, Osun State, after the collapse of an old perimeter wall.
Similar breaches earlier in 2024 at custodial centres in Maiduguri and Suleja also resulted in mass escapes, deepening national concerns over custodial security.
