Hunger protest: Prisons beef up security to avoid jailbreak

The Nigerian Correctional Service, on Monday, said the K9, intelligence and armed squads of the service had been placed on red alert, ahead of the proposed nationwide protests.

In October 2020, Nigerians across major cities protested against police brutality under the #EndSARS movement.

The protests, which led to the disbandment of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, were eventually hijacked by hoodlums, resulting in attacks on correctional facilities and other government buildings.

Over 2,000 inmates were reported to have escaped after the attacks on prisons in Edo and Ondo states during the period.

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.

Speaking in an interview with our correspondent on Monday, the NCoS spokesperson, Abubakar Umar, noted that the CG of the service had sought the collaboration of other security agencies to protect the custodial centres across the country.

Umar said, “Since the last unfortunate incident, we have strategised on the issue of security around our custodial centres. Both overt and covert operations will be conducted. We have deployed intelligence officers across locations where we have our custodial centres.

“Our K9 Department and armed squad have been placed on alert. The CG has issued a strong circular on the need to collaborate with other security agencies to help secure our custodial centres.

“The interior task force which was introduced under the immediate-past minister has been reactivated. Our men are on high alert for any eventuality.”

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