The federal government, on Friday, ordered a vulnerability audit of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS)’s custodial centres across the country.
The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, while inaugurating the audit, said its report will identify the fault lines in the security setup and penetration levels of the custodial centres.
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On 13th September 2021, at least, 240 inmates escaped from the Medium Security Custodial Centre (MSCC) in Kabba, Kogi State, following an invasion by yet to be identified gunmen that killed four soldiers and injured others.
Also, the gunmen, who attacked and freed all inmates at the Abolongo Custodial Centre, in Oyo, Oyo State last week Friday, used grenades and other explosives to bomb the facilities before gaining entry.
The NCoS, Oyo State Command, said 837 awaiting trial inmates escaped from the Abolongo Custodial Centre in Oyo Town when the suspected gunmen attacked the facility.
“The vulnerability audit we have inaugurated today will identify the weakness in our security setup and will help to put in place an effective structure to assist us in better securing our facilities against future external aggression.
“In the past, the challenges to the facilities were usually internal insurrections which our system had been primed to deal with.
“But this new challenge, starting with the #endsars riots of last year, is an armed invasion by gunmen, in large numbers, bearing sophisticated weapons and military-grade ordinances.
“They overrun the place, blow up huge holes on the perimeter fence and overpower our security system.
“We are determined to eliminate the threat from these attackers and ensure that our facilities are no longer vulnerable,” the Minister was quoted as saying in a statement by his media aide, Sola Fasure.
‘Gun them down’
The Minister stated that anyone who breaches the custodial facilities was simply toiling with the sovereignty of Nigeria and must not live to regret such actions.
“The NCoS stands at the heart and end of Administration of Criminal Justice System.
“It is a critical and essential element in keeping those the court thinks must be kept away from our society. You must do all in your power to defend it.
“The custodial centres represent Nigeria’s sovereignty, it’s a sacred institution that signifies her authority.
“Anyone who aims to breach them is simply testing the might and will of the Nigerian state and must not live to regret such actions,” the Minister said.
We are now ready for attackers – NCoS
Speaking about the audit, the Controller General of the Service, CG Haliru Nababa, noted that teams will be inaugurated in each of the geopolitical zones and an interim report submitted in the next week.
“Minister sir, immediately we leave this venue, we are heading back to the office to operationalize this assignment.
“In the next one week, we are submitting an interim report of the audit and the full report will be submitted in eight weeks’ time.
“We are aware of the embarrassment the frequent external attacks have on our reputation as a service and as a country.
“We are assuring the Minister that our officers are ready to combat all attacks on our facility.
“Already, the service has sent the first batch of 150 armed personnel for training at a military formation in Kontagora.
“Others are billed to complete their training in the next couple of weeks,” the CG stated.
